Challenge Accepted: $20 Uber Credit for ALL!

Do you guys use Uber?  

If you said no or "What the heck is an Uber?" then keep reading.  And if you said yes, then keep reading and then share this blog post with as many people as you can.

Uber is the best new way to catch a ride.  Picture having your very own driver that uses GPS technology to find out where you are and dispatches a driver to come and pick you up right where you are standing.  

I've personally used them for heading to the airport, after a night out with friends, or just to get across town when I've been without a car.  And the best part is, you don't have to have cash on you.  Your payment information is stashed securely in the app.  After your ride is complete, they will process your payment including gratuity and email you a receipt.  And you can even get an estimate through the app before they pick you up so you have a ballpark idea of what your ride is going to cost.  

This kick ass company has challenged me to get 20 new people to sign up for an Uber account with my unique promo code by tomorrow (4/1). In it for you is a free $20 credit. In it for me is the possibility of becoming a member of the Uber Community team!

All YOU have to do is download the app to your smartphone (or sign up online HERE) and enter this promo code: CMATL109.  Downloading the app costs you nothing - so GO!  Do it!  

Is this your first time hearing about this app?  

Are you an Uber Veteran?

Comment below to let me know what you think about Uber.  

Check out this great article at Mamamia.com

This article really resonated with me this morning.  All of the struggles, the pain, the heartache, the sleepless nights and the exhaustion.  While it may not feel like the best years of our lives, somehow there will be a time when we look back on these times and reminisce.

I can see how it's possible. I look at my 10 year old now and remember when he would lay in my lap and we would compare the lengths of our legs and talk about how long mine were compared to his. Now he comes to my chin and we wear the same size shoe.

And my baby girl - who seems like just yesterday was still a bump in my belly - will start Pre-K this fall. Her words are becoming more articulate. She's becoming a little lady.  A little diva - but a lady nonetheless.

I could go on and on....but I'll let the article do the rest.  Click the photo below to be taken to Liz Sharp's article at Mamamia.com.  Come back here and let me know what you think!

Come back here and let me know what you think! 

 

Mornings suck, I love my kids and did I mention I'm insane?

A couple of weeks ago, I read an article called "16 Habits Of Highly Sensitive People" that was published on Huffington Post.  I was hooked the second I read its opening paragraph:

Do you feel like you reflect on things more than everyone else? Do you find yourself worrying about how other people feel? Do you prefer quieter, less chaotic environments?

UMMM.....not yes....... but HELL YES.

Allow myself to introduce myself.  I'm Katie and on most days I feel certifiably insane.

Just as described in the article: I am emotionally reactive, constantly get told I'm too sensitive or to "stop taking things so personally", take for.ev.er. to make a decision, have been described by my therapist as an "extroverted introvert" (yep - it's a real thing), feel anxiety and depression on a regular basis, freak out when sounds annoy me (like, seriously.....I will snap like the Hulk at a leaky faucet), have been known to lose sleep when I see something violent or disturbing in a movie or TV, crumble at the sound of too much criticism and have great manners but almost to a fault.

I mean, seriously, this article was written for me.

But here's why I chose to write a blog about it.

Because now, take all of those things I just listed above.....and then add the fact that I have two (albeit amazing) children.  And a husband (also amazing).  And a dog (who is mostly amazing...with room for improvement).  Yep, this is where the certifiably insane part of me comes in.

I react emotionally to everything.  I take it all personally.  So on mornings like today when my oldest decides he's just not in the mood for getting ready for school....it sends me into a downward spiral.

We have a very precise list of things to do every morning.  We all leave at the same time.  First, we take the oldest to school, then the youngest to daycare and lastly, I drop by husband at the bus stop for his commute into downtown.  If he misses the last bus (which leaves at 8), I am driving him to work.  Which will take a solid 2-3 hours out of my work day.  *no pressure*

For the record, there are days when my husband takes the car, works from home or even rides in with a friend, but the point is that we have a schedule to keep.  And if we aren't all working together, it gets all jacked up and then the entire day is ruined!  (Well, that's how my insane-in-the-membrane-self looks at it.)  

And then, because it's all emotional, and all personal....I literally take it as a jab if my kid doesn't want to do what he needs to do to get ready.  In that moment, when I'm chasing him around, rattling off the items on his morning to-do list, I honestly feel like he just doesn't care about the rest of us.

I mean, let me remind you (and myself) that HE IS ONLY 10!  Why is it that I seem to hold him to the standards of a grown man?  Is it because I see him as a grown up version of himself already?  Or is it because....oh I know.....I'm INSANE!

I hear myself scolding him for taking 20 minutes to eat a Larabar and cut up an apple (this is a real thing that happened this morning and I about.lost.my.mind.) and I can only describe it as that of an angry chihuahua.  We have minimized his responsibilities by teaching him to do more at night before bed.  And my husband and I have been known pick up the slack on mornings when he is falling behind because we realize that um, well, mornings suck and we all (generally) wish to avoid them.  But today was different.

Today was like he was walking around giving me the finger with his glares and slow-motion movement and it rattled me to my core.  Let me paint a picture for you.

Picture it.  Atlanta.  2014.  

Young boy is in his own little world.... quietly, and at his own pace, preparing himself for a long day at school.  

He is singing songs in his head and daydreaming about a world filled with XBOX and Rainbow Looms.  

Enter Katie.  Insane mother.  Expecter of Miracles with a Delusion of Grandeur.

POP!  The sound of the deflating child's daydream can be heard 'round the world.  He looks at her like a deer in headlights.  He hears nothing.   He sees only a slow-motion version of his mother with flailing arms and tired eyes. 

Unphased, he goes back to daydreaming only now, he does it out of spite. 

Back to reality.

We finally got out the door this morning.  He shoes weren't tied (they were barely even on), he forgot to take his medicine and didn't brush his teeth.  These are his problems and he will have to face the consequences for them.  But I can't help but feel like I am to blame.

Because (say it with me) it's all emotional....and it's all personal.

Thoughts keep circulating through my head:

I didn't do something right.  I have taught him how NOT to be a morning person because I suck at it.  I'm unorganized so he's unorganized.  My insanity is toxic for him and he'll be in therapy before high school.  

So now here I am.....over the irritation and frustration and now....riddled with guilt and teary-eyed.

Part of me wants to drive to the school, hug him and tell him I love him.  The other part of me knows he will just look at me like I'm crazy (AGAIN!!) because not only did I come at him like a rabid beast this morning, but now I'm trying to hug him.  In public.

Ok, ok.  I suppose I can see where that part is confusing.

But honestly, at the end of it all, I just want him to be successful.  I want our family to run like a well-oiled machine.  I want us to be supportive and empathetic to one another.  I want to know how I can help him (and the rest of us) be more organized

But more importantly, I want to teach myself how to calm.the.eff.down. and "stop taking things so personally".

Perhaps a therapy session is in order.

losing it.....for real this time.

So, recently I committed to a journey of health, wellness and weight loss.  Now, don't worry.... I won't bore you with all of the cliche lines about how I'm making a lifestyle change and not dieting. I've done that before.  But what I will say is that I feel different this time.  My head is in a place of moving forward and improving.  I could sit here and list out all of my reasons excuses for failing at this before....but it's a waste of your time and it sets my back in my current progress.  So forget about all of that.

I choose to forget about all the places in my life where I could have done things differently - whether in business, finance, health/wellness or otherwise.  It's all water under the bridge.  Today is about today in preparation for tomorrow.  Today, I woke up motivated and ready to kick this week's ass.  And that's what I shall do.  The results will fall into place.

I used the Super Bowl as my own send off.  It was the last day I ate a bite or took a sip of something without considering the long term ramifications it would have on my body and my health.  Since February 2, I have made healthier choices at meal times, drank more water and taken a temporary hiatus from adult beverages.  Even that one glass of wine at night while watching my stories was catching up with me.

I consider myself semi-crunchy.  My family and I have {loosely} followed the Paleo diet for almost four years now and I'm pretty much a snob about what my kids are allowed to eat.  I give them only healthy natural foods, avoid gluten and grains whenever I can and rarely ever subject them to junk food.  But at the end of the day, I don't follow the same diet I hold so strict for them.

In my post last week about the Biggest Loser Finale, I mentioned that I related a lot with Rachel throughout this season.  I work at home and spend most of my days in solitude at either the sewing machine, my computer desk or my dining room table.  Translation: I sit a lot.   Couple that with a diet that consists mostly of coffee straight on through to dinner time and well.....I'm a mess.

Further, I am genetically predisposed to a laundry list of medical issues.  Obesity, diabetes, stroke, heart attack to name a few.  And to make matters worse, I'm also a craft beer snob, wine lover and aspiring foodie who loves to celebrate allllll of life's little moments.  Jo, one of my most precious BFFs, said something to me once that really stayed with me - she said, "You have to pick what you celebrate - every day can't be a reason to cheat."  She was so right!!

As a sports aficionado (and by aficionado I mean don't you dare talk to me while my Dawgs or my Braves are playing), beer snob and aspiring foodie..... every weekend presents a reason to cheat. Football games, baseball games, local roller derby, BYOB trips to the food truck park....the list goes on.

I heard Bob Harper say something recently that punched me in the face.  He said (and I'm paraphrasing) it's not about how bad working out makes you feel - it's about how good you'll feel about yourself once you've done it.  BAM!  My precious little steampunk-styled boyfriend nailed it again.

So here I am..... in week 2.  Now I'll probably blog about all of it but if I know myself at all, there will be absolutely no method to my blogging madness.  But I'll try to keep you updated - if you're interested.

Today's Progress/Brag Report:
As of my weekly weigh-in on Friday, 2/7 - I have lost 3.6 pounds!
My goal for this week is to lose another 3 pounds this week

For my first week, I focused on diet.  I forced myself to eat breakfast - even if was just a handful of strawberries, I drank more water, I stopped snacking at night and I ate nutrient dense, healthier meals (lots of salad, lean meats, veggies, nuts, etc).  I was recovering from a chest cold so I didn't do any working out but that leads to week two!

For my second week, I am remaining focused on my diet, but am starting the Rockin' Body workout routine with Shaun T.  I started today and it felt great to get back into working out.  (Shhhh - don't tell anyone I said that.)

So anyway, thanks for listening....or reading, as the case may be.

Tell me, are you on any sort of journey of your own?  Doesn't have to be weight loss or health related - maybe it's a journey towards starting a family, securing your finances or decluttering your home.  Let's talk about it!  Comment below with your story!  I love to hear from you!

the biggest loser.

So not that anyone is asking for my opinion on the matter, but I thought I would weigh in (pun intended) on The Biggest Loser debate going on right now.

Spoiler Alert: On Tuesday, Rachel Frederickson won $250,000 and the title of Biggest Loser at the live finale of the show's 15th season.  Weighing in at what most are calling a "shocking" 105 pounds, losing a total of 155 pounds - a nearly 60% weight loss.

Photo: US Magazine

I've seen a number of critical statements online. There are comments across every single social media network calling her names and putting her down.  Admittedly, I did question if she was motivated by the money and therefore took extreme measures to ensure her victory.  But then I remembered every other episode of the season.

I cheered for Rachel from the beginning.  I related to her the most and was ecstatic for her as week after week she dropped weight, found herself again and essentially got her groove back.

See, it was easy for me to cheer for her - the parallels in our lives seemed almost eery.  As a person who also works from home, has little interaction with the "outside world", longs for the thinner, more active version of herself, feels alone in her struggle and changed the course of her life for a boy.....I totally got it when she told her story.

I teared up when I heard her chanting with tear-filled eyes "get your life back" as she trudged towards the finish line of the triathlon.  She looked AMAZING at makeover week.  Absolutely stunning.  She was radiant, vibrant, toned and happy - or at least that's how she seemed on camera.  When she looked at her Daddy and beamed from ear to ear, I really felt like she was happy with herself and had found that inner athlete that she came to the ranch to find.

But I have to say, when the doors opened for her final reveal and she walked out onto the finale stage, my heart sank.  Not in a place of judgement - but a place of sadness and concern.  It seemed like she got to her own finish line and then just kept going.  I'm worried for her, concerned for her health and genuinely bothered that she may have exchanged over-eating to under-eating or even over-exercising....or both.

Like it or not, Bob and Jillian aren't commenting on Rachel's story because they "weren't her trainers".  And honestly, I don't really have a problem with that.  Some viewers are outraged with the show and the trainers but let's look at the facts.  Rachel primarily trained with Dolvett at the ranch and then had essentially 3 1/2 months at home on her own with no access to the trainers or other contestants.  It's not Dolvett's fault and it's not Bob or Jillian's place to comment - at this point, it would be just gossip like the rest of us.

But, as her trainer, I did like what Dolvett said the day after the finale:

"Please try not to look at one slice of Rachel's journey and come to broad conclusions. Rachel's health is and always has been my main concern and her journey to good health has not yet ended!!"  

Well said.  Her journey to health is the main concern here.  Yes, she competed in a weight loss show - and she won.  She may have completed her weight loss journey, but she hasn't finished her journey to health.

I sincerely wish her all the best and will continue to follow her progress.

(Alright, I'm done.  Let's watch the Olympics!!)

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Paleo Grass Fed Gelatin Gummies

These delicious gummies are a trifecta of awesome: easy to make, delicious and SOOO good for you! 

My 4 year old daughter would be completely content eating a diet consisting only of fruit and cheese.  I can totally see her at my age living on wine and charcuterie platters.  Wonder where she gets that from....

My 10 year old son on the other hand....he's more carnivorous.....but can be reluctant to try new things. He's coming around....but it's still a challenge.  

Since they are both in school and exposed to so many other petri dishes....I mean kids......I am constantly looking for ways to boost their immune system and vitamin intake.  The immune boosting power of gelatin as well as it's other awesome benefits are reason enough to perfect a gummy recipe that can be added to all of our daily diets.  They think I'm giving them candy and my husband and I just sit back and maniacally laugh.  

The first recipe I tried called for a fruit puree, but we didn't love the texture.  I wanted them to be soft and clear like a gummy bear but instead they turned out spongey - almost like an angel food cake.  *GAG*  Since I had stocked up on some POM that was on sale last weekend, I used that and some bacon shaped ice cube trays I got at Target last summer.  (They aren't at Target anymore but I did find these on Amazon.)  I've since made more using apple juice, grape juice and even a vitamin-enriched strawberry juice and these adorbs trays from Ikea!

As far as the ingredients go, I highly recommend Great Lakes brand of grass fed gelatin.  Since the main reason I am making these is to increase our gelatin intake, I want it to be as nutrient dense as possible.  Store bought gelatin that you get from your local supermarket just won't cut it.  I get mine on Amazon with free 2-day Prime shipping.

On to the recipe!!

Grass Fed Gelatin Gummies

Ingredients:
1 cup organic fruit juice 

1 tbsp lemon juice

1 tbsp(ish) raw honey - add to your liking 
3 tablespoons grass fed gelatin (I use Great Lakes brand)

Candy molds, ice cube trays or 9x9 refrigerator safe pan

Instructions:

1. Bring your juice to a boil.  Then remove from heat and let it cool for 2-3 minutes.  You want it hot but not boiling when you add the gelatin.
2. Once it has cooled for a bit, add the lemon juice and honey to taste.  
3. Now it's time to add your gelatin.  You will want to do this VERY gradually so that you don't get clumps of gelatin in your gummies.  You do NOT want that.
4. Once everything is combined, pour your mixture into a measuring cup with a pourable lip (unless your saucepan already has one!)  Allow it to cool almost to room temperature.  Scrape off any foam that may settle on the top from whisking and then pour into your mold.  
5. Put those bad boys in the refrigerator for a couple of hours.  Mine were ready right at the 2 hour mark. 

We store ours in a glassware dish in the fridge but I've also read that you can leave them in a closed container on the counter.  Up to you!

What flavor are you going to use for your gummies?  Share your stories and pictures in the comments below!

Full Disclosure:  This post is riddled with affiliate links.  I promote the brands I love and feed my family and if you try them through these links, I get a little piece of the pie to keep food on table and beer in the fridge.  It's not a lot, but it helps me supplement a little income for the fam and keep this blog up and running.  Thanks for helping make it rain.