52 Weeks of Balance Project Archives - Page 2 of 5

April 7, 2011 · in 52 Weeks of Balance Project· Life of a Wannabe· Mom Stuff· Work Out Program

Little Pooch

Here’s a picture of my belly. Yah, I know I’m only 7 weeks, but this is exactly what happened last time too. I started showing as soon as I found out I was pregnant, it’s like my brain just starts telling my belly to pop out even though the baby isn’t even the size of a grape yet.

You can find this short sleeve side button sweater at Impel.

Or it could be the fact that I’m eating donut holes by the dozen, and sitting around all day cause I’m too tired to do anything else.

I better get crackin on this 4 Week Work Out Program. Click HERE for week one. Here is week two.

Click HERE to print.

Oh and I thought I’d let you know that Impel is having a sale on all their jewelry and Jeans. Just click on this little icon and it will bring you right to the website. The jeans are only $37 right now and they are SO cute!

Okay, now I have some fun and exciting things planned for the blog. This month my goal is to do more videos, as well as go through all my home videos and put them all on DVDs. I started going through them last night and I already have some funny stuff I will most definitely be sharing, Sean may kill me for doing so, but it will be worth it. Plus I’ve been working on a couple new videos I plan to post very soon.

Next week I will be sharing pictures of my nursery. I’m thinking about changing the theme for the new baby. What I need is some inspiration, so I thought it would be fun to host a Baby Nursery link up party.

Here’s how it works:

#1. Email me pictures of your nursery and I will post them here for all to admire. Email them to:
crystal@wannabebalanced.com

#2. If you want to share them on your own blog then you will have the chance to link up here, making it possible for everyone to visit your page. Mark this date on your calendars so you can be prepared to link up your blog post. The date is next Friday the 20th.

#3. I will be randomly selecting a winner for everyone who participates. The prize is this:

This Bosch Tassimo Single-Serve Coffee Brewer, Silk Silver ($130 value). I actually won this in a giveaway, and thought I could use it for tea, but it didn’t work out that way. I don’t drink coffee, so I would like to give it to one of you.

I hope you’ll all join me cause I REALLY want to see some of your nurseries.

March 31, 2011 · in 52 Weeks of Balance Project· Weight Loss· Work Out Program

FREE Meal Plan & Printable Exercise Plan

Exercising is like marriage…
You’ve got to spice things up to maintain the passion.

This program is all about mixing things up to prevent boredom and to keep your body guessing which is ideal for maximum results.

Are you at the point where you feel like nothing’s working for you? No matter what you do that muffin top remains. I hear ya girl. It’s called, LIFE AFTER KIDS.

Don’t give up hope though, there is a way. I’m going to share exactly what I do to keep my weight in check. Although I won’t exactly be joining in now that I’m with child. I’ll be there cheering you on while stuffing my face with carbs on top of carbs, yum 🙂 Now’s my chance to eat what I want right? I’m trying not to go over board because I tend to think I’m literally eating for two. We like to say that don’t we, but we all know it only takes an extra 300 calories to keep that baby growing healthy and strong.

Let’s just pretend we didn’t hear that okay?

I’m eating for two and I don’t care what you say!!!

These four week’s we’ll be incorporating MIND BODY and SOUL to keep us feeling energized and balanced as we get our bodies back to where they were meant to be.

It’s no secret that diet plays a major role in getting the kinds of results you’re looking for. So for the next 4 weeks, try replacing breakfast with an Isagenix meal replacement shake, for lunch, you should eat a 400-600 calorie meal (get my FREE Meal Plan for ideas), and for dinner have a small portion of what ever you’re making for the family. I don’t think it’s necessary to eat perfectly ALL day. Enjoy a nice yummy meal with your family, just don’t over do it. Try using a smaller plate to trick your mind into thinking you’ve got a full plate.

Here’s week one!

Click HERE to print.

Just so you know, I’m fully qualified to give you fitness advice. Seriously, I used to be an aerobics instructor ya know…

Well, not legally, but I was.

Let me just tell you that story real quick.

I was about 20 years old, living in Hawaii with my mom. We were living in a small town called Hilo, population- 40,000. Fitness has always been a major priority in my life. I’m not one to work out more than 30-40 min. on average, but I do make it a part of my daily routine. So anyway, I found the nearest gym and first thing I thought was, I wonder if I could get a job here and get a free membership.
So I asked the person at the front desk (which just so happened to be the owner) if they were hiring. It went a little something like this…

Owner: Well yes we are, but we need an aerobics instructor, can you teach aerobics?

Me: Um yah… I mean, I’m not certified or anything, but I’ve been to enough aerobics classes to know how to teach one.

Owner: Okay, come in tomorrow and show us your routine.

Me: Uh, okay… ya… um, sure sure I can do that. Great, thanks… see you tomorrow.

I walked away thinking, WHAT THE HECK JUST HAPPENED?

I was excited but felt major pressure to come up with a good routine. I worked all night on it, wrote it down and practiced it over and over.

I came back the next day for the “audition” I guess you’d call it. Did my routine in front of all the other instructors and was totally embarrassed because I really had know idea what I was doing.

Well, I got the job and taught my class 3 times a week for 4 months (then I left on my mission). Is there anything better than getting paid to work out?

Um no…

Someday I’ll tell you about when I was an aerobics instructor on my MISSION. Yes, I’m being serious, but I’ll have to save that story for another day.

March 10, 2011 · in 52 Weeks of Balance Project· Giveaways· Life of a Wannabe· Making Dinners

Tortillas Soup PLUS Another Planner Giveaway!!!

As most of you already know I’ve developed a day planner I like to call the Wanna Be Balanced Planner. Inside this planner you’ll find all kinds of useful organizational tools as well as 3 months of meal plans WITH weekly grocery lists. My goal is to make 12 months of meals, so far I have 5. You can buy the additional months as they become available.

I’ve borrowed recipes from all over the web, but now my new goal is to start creating my own. I usually add my personal touch to basic recipes anyway, so I thought why not share them with you.

Another thing I’m working on to go in the day planners is a 4 week exercise program with meal plans catering more towards weight loss. This can be purchased separately as well. It should be ready to present to you within the next couple of weeks.

Last week I made some delicious Tortilla Soup ( recipe is included in month 5 of the planners). I’ll share the recipe first, then below I’ll give you the details on the giveaway. You’ll all have a chance to WIN one of my specialty day planners.

Here are ALMOST all the items you’ll need for the soup. Later I decided that the consistency was too soupy for my liking. I like soups to be on the thicker side, so I added a can of tomato sauce.

Chop the onions WITHOUT tearing up in the process.
Man I think my eyes are just so sensitive because every time I cut onions my eyes are burning so bad to the point where I’m cutting with my eyes closed.
I’m known for my brains 🙂

Chop 3 cloves of garlic, then saute them in a tablespoons of olive oil.

I really hate measuring, so I usually just guess, but I would say that a couple teaspoons of chili powder would do the trick.

Then a couple sprinkles of dried oregano…

Add a can of diced tomatoes and green chilies…

A can of chicken broth…

Then a can of rinsed black beans and a can of corn…

Chop up some fresh cilantro and add it to the pot. About 1/4 cup.

I really hate cooking chicken. Handling it raw just grosses me out and I never seem to cook it right. Either I don’t cook it enough and the middle is pink which of course makes me lose my appetite and end up throwing it out, OR it’s extremely dry. So in my opinion, buying the rotisserie is the way to go:) It saves time, is cooked to perfection and tastes incredible!!!

Just start pulling it apart with a fork and adding pieces to the soup.

Now here is where I noticed I needed to add the tomato sauce to thicken it up.

Bring to a boil, then simmer for about 15 minutes or so. While it’s simmering you can get your garnishes ready.

Crushed tortilla chips, avocado’s my favorite, green onions, Monterey jack cheese, and sour cream.

Isn’t it beautiful!!!!

Okay, now for the giveaway!!! One of you lucky ladies now has the chance to get one of these for FREE. Just help me spread the word by doing some of these things below, then you can leave a separate comment in the comment section of this post for each thing you do. Be sure to leave your email address if it’s not already public in your profile. This way I have a way of contacting you if you’re the winner. Giveaway ends 3-25. The winner will be selected using Random.org.

*Must be subscribed to this blog in some way. Google friend connect, networked blogs, or via email. Leave a separate comment for each one.

*Become of fan of Balanced Moms on Facebook. Just click the “like” button.

*Suggest to at least 5 of your friends to “LIKE” Balanced moms on facebook.

*Share the link to this post on your Facebook wall. You can leave TWO separate comments for this one.

Also, I’d love it if you voted for me on Top Mommy Blogs. Just click this icon below and that counts as a vote. No need to do anything else beyond that. Just click!!!

Next week on Wanna Be Balanced Mom

*Turning 30
My dreaded 30th birthday is on Monday. Can we just skip that day?

*Spring Fashion
I’ll be posting some cute spring finds for ya.

*Purse Pics
What’s in your purse? If you’d like to submit your purse pics then email me at crystal@escoweb.net. I’ll be sharing your pics next week. If you don’t know what I’m talking about, refer to this blog post for the details.
http://www.wannabbalancedmom.com/2011/02/whats-in-your-bag.html

January 12, 2011 · in 52 Weeks of Balance Project

The Planners Are HERE!!!

This is a handmade specialty day planner, that is a must have organizational tool when trying to balance your life as a mom.

It is a 1″ Capacity binder (Holds Paper Size 8-1/2″x5-1/2″), covered in a variety of different designs of fabric (see below) that is perfect for every mom. It includes essential to do lists and planning tools for keeping your house organized, making healthy meals, and spending quality time with your family. Comes complete with 3 months of meal plans and laminated grocery list organized by category making meals and grocery shopping less stressful. It also includes tabs, pockets to store receipts or notes, and two pen holders. You’ll get two complimentary markers, one permanent sharpie, and one wet erase to use on the laminated pages.

So far customers have raved about these new planners. It’s the perfect tool for the busy mom trying to balance it all.

You will also get 52 weekly overviews, a laminated house projects list, a laminated daily routine schedule.

You can buy a list of activities to do with your kids for $6 or each additional month of meals for $8.

Watch this video for details on how to use it!

I’ve been working hard trying to make these even better and more cost effective. So I went to my mom for help. She is an INCREDIBLE seamstress and helped me come up with a better idea for the binder covers, which didn’t require any glue. Look how much nicer they look!!! Also I got some bids from a couple of different printing companies trying to find the best price. Turns out that the laminating is what’s killing me in cost. So these new binders are priced at $45 but it doesn’t include the activities. If you’d like to add the activities in your binder, you can do that for an extra $3 (printed on card stock), or $6 if you want them laminated. Then the shipping will be $10. More details HERE.

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BROWN AND PINK ZEBRA

$45.00

If you’d like to see another pink and brown zebra with a different flower, you can buy it HERE on etsy.
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PINK AND BLACK DAMASK