Too Blessed To Be Stressed: Pool Time and Bikini Bodies Don't Really Go Together At My House!

Ahhhh School Vacation Week! I absoluteley Love it!! I am one of those moms that relishes in having my kids home. Yes some days I want to sell them to the highest bidder, but being home with them is what I do best. Well "being home" is a relative term because we are all too high energy to really lounge too much. We have been on the GO all week. Monday Boston for the day,then a sleepover. Tuesday - my daughter had double dance sessions. Wednesday we went to family swim and lunch. Today we went to a a plaster painting place and had friends over. And tomorrow its movies with friends! Did I mention, I LOVE VACATION WEEKS!!!

POOL TIME IN FEBRUARY! LOVE IT!

So yesterday when I took the kids to family Swim at the pool, It hit me. Why I always feel like I need to compete or do a photo shoot, or some type of challenge. I work damn hard for a nice "bikini body", and lets face it after three kids and as you start to get older (not that I'm saying I'm old so simmer down lol) just saying after 25 especially I've notices its NOT AS EASY. So I work so hard to hit a goal, feel and look a certain way, and for what? I'm married <3 the only one I'm trying to impress is my husband and frankly he's a likes a little meat on his girl's bones type of guy. So as much as he supports and likes lean, he loves 10 pounds heavier MUCH MORE. And then yesterday when I put on my two piece in February to go to family swim I was happy with what I saw, I felt comfortable. Of course I still have goals to hit but for the most part everything was at least where I wanted it to be haha But then I throw on a cover up shirt to wear in the pool over my bikini!! Why? Because I have three kids, three kids I LOVE to play with. I rough house in the pool, splash with, jump with, they hang on me, I let my husband throw me for their kicks, and as much as my body may be bikini ready, my bikinis are not built for MOMMY play in the pool, and I didn't want any wardrobe malfunctions LOL So all that hard work and boom I cover it up, because well, my lifestyle is not designed to lay around in a bikini all day and "look pretty". And I don't want it to be. I LOVE PLAYING IN THE POOL WITH MY KIDS!

I guess that's why I feel like I have this alter ego when I compete or model, it allows me to show off my hard work, it allows me to BASK in my body, my own "beauty", my confidence, it allows me to show a side of me that I enjoy showing even if not all the time. And it gives me a light at the end of the tunnel, a focus, a goal, an extra push to work harder. It's funny because I like to dress up, get dolled up and rock heels and long eye lashes with the best of em, however it is NOT ME 100% of the time. I enjoy my no make-up days. The days I don't blow dry my hair, and rock a t - shirt and jeans comfortably too. I guess I love to have my cake and eat it too. So whether I compete this summer, whether I have photo shoots, or whether I just lay around my pool covered up so I can cannon ball with the best of em, I'm still gonna set a goal.

This bikini body this was post twin boys, they were under a year, about 6 weeks POST COMPETITION so I was up a bit from stage weight, actually Ern and I went to Mexico that year sans kids and partied like rock stars before these pics were taken so I know this is a look I can easily maintain all summer, and this is my goal for Summer 2011, actually my goal for no later than June 1st. I am only 8ish pounds away from it and its 3 months away so I think I'm safe ;) And maybe this goal will bring other goals ;). My promise to myself this 2011 WAS CONTINUE TO DREAM BIG, and NOT be afraid to dream big. So even if I don't get every dream this year if I get 3 out of 10 I'm happy!

I watched an old video we shot back in 07 after the boys were born, we were contacted by a casting director to audition for WIFE SWAP and had shot a video for it, as I watched it one part that really stuck with me is one thing I said. I said "I have stopped telling people what my dreams are because I'm tired of them looking at me like I have 10 heads or like I'm crazy." And we both ended saying(Ern and I) that we didn't care! What we did worked for us and our family and that was all that mattered. And I'd like to believe we've stood by that. I stopped dreaming for a while. For a time there I just needed to focus enough to keep my head above water, but I am past that and have started dreaming again. And if you're gonna do it DREAM BIG!

I have this quote inside an old calendar that I used for a prep a few years ago and i just saw it the other day and it made me smile: "Once you become self-conscious, there is no end to it; once you start to doubt, there is no room for anything else."

So with that said I did two things this week that are incredibly what I would consider out of my league and will let the chips fall where they may. There is no harm in trying!!!! School vacation week is almost over and I have enjoyed the extra time home with my kids and all the fun,its going by way too fast!

I would be lying if I said I didn't feel like I was slacking a bit this week. I did everything for the most part, but with my schedule being so off and with so many plans it hasn't been 100%. Monday was not a cheat day and my family and I went to Boston for the day to take the kids to Disney on ice and then out to Fire and Ice for lunch. Now I did get only protein and veggies but I know it was prepared with a lot of oil and my portions were not "correct portions". My cardio got done this week, but I did not do AM cardio on an empty stomach ONCE this week, I know SO BAD. I totally slacked there. I couldn't pull myself to get up at 4:35 when I knew I didn't have to wake up with the kids. It got done, but AM for me makes a big difference at this point. So I plan to get back on track 1000% next week. I still feel great and my workouts have been great I just need a little more focus, this no set schedule thing doesn't work well for me, but I have so enjoyed my extra time with the kids!!

Another thing is I haven't taken progress pics yet. Its not even that I'm avoiding them I just haven't had time, or made it a priority but it is time. I like the mirror, I like the scale, I feel good, I even like my shadows (haha don't laugh you all know you check out your shadows in the bathroom when no one's looking) I just need to face the camera. PICS DON"T LIE! Who knows maybe I will share. Ummmm honestly doubtful, I'm more of a share when I have an after pic I like type person. But it will give me motivation to track better for the next few weeks.

On that Note a Crock Pot Healthy Recipe I made:

Chicken Tortilla Soup

It's easy, its yummy, it's high protein, and it makes in batches well.
If you are a little more calorie/carb sensitive the tortilla strips could be omitted.

Ingredients:
1 lb boneless skinless chicken breast
2 cans (15 oz each) diced tomatoes undrained
1 can (4oz) chopped mild green chilies
1/2 cup 99% fat free chicken broth
1 medium yellow onion
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tsp ground cumin
Salt and pepper to taste
4 corn tortilla strips slices into 1/4 inch strips
2 tbs chopped fresh cilantro
1/2 cup shredded Monterey Jack Cheese
1 avocado, peeled, diced, and tosses with lime juice to prevent browning

Directions:
1. Place Chicken in Crockpot. Combine Tomatoes with juice, chillies, broth, onion, garlic and cumin in small bowl pour over chicken
2. Cover; cook on LOW 6 hours. Remove chicken shred with two forks. Return to liquid, adjust seasonings to taste and add more broth if necessary.
3. Just before Serving add tortillas and cilantro to crock pot. Stir to blend. Serve in soup bowls, topping each serving with cheese, avocado, and a squeeze of lime.