Riding Shotgun & Wearing Spit-up

#MealPrepMonday... on Thursday but whatevs

Eating your feelings

We’ve all done it (most of us can't make it look quite as cute as Ty does covered in avocado). The question is when does searching for joy at the bottom of a Tom and Jerry’s pint cross the line from therapeutic to toxic. This balance is something I continue to struggle with.

I used to be a modest eater. I rarely finished my plate and had no problem skipping desert. Lately, I find myself grazing from our fridge to the pantry- eating a of little this, then a little of that. Ok, who I am I kidding. It’s more like a ton of this and way, way too much of that. And honestly, I’m embarrassed. I’m totally self-conscious and no matter what I do I can’t pinpoint the exact moment that I lost all dietary self-control. I'll admit that probably sounds more dramatic than it really it. I haven’t ballooned to some unrecognizable person that hides candy bars under the bed, but I am definitely beyond my comfort zone.

So to those struggling like me I say, put down that cupcake and step away from the refrigerator! We can be better. We CAN be different. We can learn to manage our emotions instead of submitting to the impulse for just one more donut.

Here are some tips I found to manage emotional eating:

Meal prepping can help you avoid making bad, food choices. If you missed my last post, check out what I learned from my first week of meal prepping.

Get rid of the junk. Throw out your stockpile of sweet treats and trade them in for healthier options. This means even if you find yourself digging through the fridge for a little reprieve you’ll quickly find that carrots are your only option.

Identify your triggers and find new ways to cope. While stress is a common trigger for emotional eating, be mindful that positive things can lead to it as well. Rewarding yourself for an accomplishment or celebrating a holiday or event are a couple of examples.

Share your feelings. This can take on many forms – writing in a journal, talking to a friend, or even seeing a professional are all ways that can help you accept and eventually overcome those feelings that are prompting emotional eating.

I haven’t been shy about admitting I need to get my crap together. Everyday I am still trying to figure out what I’m doing regarding anything from parenting to how to stop loosing socks in the dryer. The good news is everyday I get a new chance to try again. And as cheesy as it sounds, something about that makes it a little easier to not give up.

No comments

, by Cherise Brock

Food

5 Things I Learned From My First Week of Healthy Meal Prep Planning

If you saw my last post with this week's meal plan you'll know I've been hanging out somewhere between hungry and real hungry. Well I am happy to report that despite the looming hunger cloud hanging over me, my body is showing me I made the right choice. For my cheat treat I finally got that red velvet cupcake I had been yearning for. I didn't even make it through half before my stomach started doing backflips. Needless to say, it's still sitting on the kitchen counter untouched.

So our first week is over and as I sit down to plan for next week a few things have come to mind that I thought I would share with you guys.

1. Plan to eat things you actually like.

Remember, you’re going to be eating these meals all. week. long. It's not really the time to experiment with your latest Pinterest find. Nothing will pull your off track faster than a fridge full of meals you can’t bear to finish. Put down that phone – just say NO to the take out!

2. Don’t skimp on good ingredients.

Even on a budget, you can make good, fresh choices. Sure, frozen veggies are better than no veggies at all but when you’re five days deep into your week you’ll be grateful your green beans aren’t making their way through their third or fourth cooking cycle. Now let me say, nutritionally speaking, frozen veggies have been shown to be just as healthy as fresh. However, personally the taste of frozen veggies is off putting to me so I stick with fresh whenever possible.

3. Buying organic doesn’t mean it’s more expensive.

Ok, that’s not entirely true. But, the fact remains that organic produce and poultry do not require an astronomical investment. I always shop at Trader Joe's because you can see side-by-side that the price differences are negligible. As an added bonus, shopping here also means I cut my shopping trip time by more than half because I’m not wandering around a warehouse sized grocery store.

4. Eating healthy is great, but you gotta work that booty!

Don’t let your sacrifice be in vain. I realize time isn’t always on our side but you have to commit to a workout. Clean eating in combination with a consistent workout plan gives you your best shot at seeing tangible changes. I will admit this is something I am still struggling with. I hate the gym. So, do as I say, not as I do.

5. Indulge in a cheat meal, NOT a cheat day.

A day worth of donuts and mac n cheese has the potential to undo all the work you put in through the week. I’m not saying don’t treat yourself. I’m just saying don’t go crazy. Trust me. You’ll thank me the next time you step on the scale.

No comments

, by Cherise Brock

Food

My meal plan is poppin’

No comments

, by Cherise Brock

Family

Conquer Laundry Chaos

I am over doing laundry. Seriously, I'd rather walk over hot coals than spend another second folding shirts that I don’t even remember wearing. It seems no matter how many tiny pairs of pants I fold, there’s always MORE. At this point I am convinced my family is actively creating dirty clothes just to toy with me.

So how do I tackle this never-ending responsibility? (Code for: How do I keep myself from setting these last two loads on fire just so I won’t actually have to fold them??)

Welp, here are four tips to conquer laundry chaos.

1. Wash a load everyday

Avoid the all day spectacle that is “Laundry Day” by popping a load into the wash every day. Fold and put away that single load instead of being stuck dressing out of baskets of unfolded laundry for the next week.

2. Throw away that one sock
We have basically abandoned the idea of wearing matching socks. I mean we don’t even try. As far as we are concerned if they are both white, they match. From here on out, I’m ditching these orphaned babies. That also goes for the holey, torn, and stained. Honestly, I’m getting to the point where I might just declare sock bankruptcy and start fresh.

3. Eliminate sorting

Have one laundry basket for whites and one for colors. This simple trick will eliminate the need for sorting. Just toss your clothes in the proper basket at the end of the day and poof, no more sorting!

4. Fold like a pro

It might seem silly, but this DIY shirt folder means I can basically fold clothes on autopilot while enjoying an episode of Real Housewives of Wherever the Heck (as my husband calls it).

I hate laundry. I don’t think that will ever change. The best thing I can do for myself is find ways to keep my sanity. Since I started staying at home, I have come to realize for me this notion pretty much applies to any other domestic obligation. You are in control of your frustration. If something is driving you crazy, I can guarantee you someone on the Interwebz has already figured out how to do it better, faster, or easier. Google it, baby!

So tell me, what are your tips and tricks for beating the laundry pile?

No comments

, by Cherise Brock

Waking up before sunrise is for losers anyway

Every morning I am basically kicking and screaming for just 5 more minutes. After reading this article by designer, writer John Zeratsky, I am inspired to try something new – being a morning person. Everyday I literally drag myself from the bed. It feels like I am wading through quicksand as I stumble through my morning routine. That desperately dazed sensation follows me through the morning basically eliminating any potential for genuine productivity.

Despite the sleep deprivation characteristic of early parenthood, I am resolute in my desire to become better equipped to take on the day. Who knows? Maybe the best version of myself is a bright eyed, peppy housewife and mother that wakes with a plan for the day, makes breakfast for her family and sits down for early morning coffee in an, at least relatively, clean kitchen. The real problem is figuring out how I go about reprogramming almost three decades (oh Lord, why did I write that) of bad habits?

All signs point to a need to drop my late afternoon nap but I'm not convinced I'd make it to bedtime without keeling over. Then again no matter how tired I am when my head hits the pillow, my brain remains totally active waiting for a bleat from the baby monitor. And as with any other self-fulfilling prophecy, just as my eyes shut and I begin to slip into sleep my sweet little son wakes with a whimper.

I don't know how successful this venture will be. I might go down in a blaze of flames. So in the spirit of lukewarm commitment, I'm going to give it a full two weeks. I'll update on what's working for me and what’s absolutely not. The first and most important step of my plan...buy coffee!

Laugh at my pain with these insanely accurate representations of my morning nonsense from BuzzFeed. Or be productive and check out this or maybe this for some tricks of your own to become more useful in the AM.

Something already working for you? Are you a reformed snoozer? What are your morning routines? What gets you ready the day?

No comments

, by Cherise Brock

Pages

Printable Meal Prep Grocery List Organizer

#MealPrepMonday... on Thursday but whatevs

Eating your feelings

5 Things I Learned From My First Week of Healthy Meal Prep Planning

My meal plan is poppin’

Conquer Laundry Chaos

Waking up before sunrise is for losers anyway

About me

Follow Us

Pinterest

Labels

Blog Archive

Popular Posts

Like us on Facebook

Twitter

Pages

Printable Meal Prep Grocery List Organizer

#MealPrepMonday... on Thursday but whatevs

Eating your feelings

5 Things I Learned From My First Week of Healthy Meal Prep Planning

My meal plan is poppin’

Conquer Laundry Chaos

Waking up before sunrise is for losers anyway

About me

Follow Us

Pinterest

Labels

Blog Archive

Popular Posts

Like us on Facebook

Twitter

Subscribe