11 months of Axel

Those chubby fingers.  Those mile long lashes.  That ticklish baby belly.  His barely there hair.  

Eleven Months.  Seriously.  I can't take that it is to this point already.  I'm not ready for 1.  

Gingerbread Houses

Ivy counts down the days for lots of things and gingerbread houses is one of them.  We have bought kits in the past but this year we decided to make our own from scratch.  Lets just say there are pros to buying the kit.  BUT it was fun and we all pitched in to make it our very own.  Darin cut out templates for us and we all had to hold it in place while the frosting firmed up enough to stay.

This little guy kept trying to get us to give him candy.   Sorry buddy, just because you have teeth does not mean you can eat candy canes.  That smile won't change my mind either. ;)

The very hardest part for me is letting Ivy decorate it.  But after 6 years I am getting the hang of it.  Its not a magazine worthy gingerbread house by any means but really I couldn't have made one perfectly either.   Sometimes I feel like I give up on doing things because its not going to be done just right.  That it isn't how I pictured it would go or some silly thing like that.  I'm learning from my family that creating memories with them is doing it perfectly.  That a six year old's version of a gingerbread house, is awesome.  Or that the majority of the ornaments on the tree hanging from the bottom branches is just how it should be.  Because we did it together, and that is the best way to do things.  

Yogi Tea

Ummmmm.  I'm just gonna come out and say it.  All of this clean eating is slowly turning me in to a hippie.   I mean, I just ordered a nut milk bag to make my own almond milk for heavens sake. I've been researching  baby wearing and gmo's.  I might even be considering cloth diapers. GASP!   I love it though.  Its a throwback to my Oregon roots. 

 So, side note I've just realized I do that a lot.  I look like a hipster?  Its cuz I grew up in Portland.  I justify every Nike purchase because they are from my hometown.  My love of sunshine comes from growing up without any sunshine.  Oregon.  Love it. 

But back to being a hippie.  Besides being "forced" ;) to eat really delicious pizza and homemade ice cream at my baby shower, which led to the return of pms and therefore the justification of frozen yogurt and a raid on my mom's cinnamon bears stash, I have done really well.  Haha!  Eating clean has become so much more to me than getting in to booty shorts, which is a whole different post.  I love how I feel and I love the effects it has had on other areas of my life.  All those cinnamon bears gave me was some zits and a stomach ache.  I think it also made me more anxious about baby coming.  

So what is a hippie to do when faced with a stomach ache and an anxious heart?  Yoga, obviously.   I've really loved doing more yoga this year.  It challenges me to be more present and focused, and gives me determination more than any other kind of exercise I do.   So Monday night I brewed some yogi tea, sat in baby's space and refocused.  My to do list shrank.  My priorities shifted back to where they need to be. 

My stomach ache is gone.  My anxiousness has been replaced by excitement and clarity. I still have the zits but with a little help from apple cider vinegar those will be gone soon too. I highly recommend being a hippie.    

And yogi tea.  

Yogi Tea

2 quarts water

15 whole cloves

20 black peppercorns

3 cinnamon sticks

20 whole green cardamom pods, split

8 slices ginger 

1/2 tsp black tea (decaf)  

Bring 2 quarts of water to a boil in a 3-4 quart pot. Add cloves and boil for one minute. Next, add cardamon, peppercorns, cinnamon, and fresh ginger root. Cover and boil for at least 30 minutes. For best flavor, cover and simmer for 2 to 3 hours, adding more water if needed.  When ready, remove from heat, add black tea and let cool. Strain tea. When ready to drink, mix 1/2 cup tea and 1/2 cup milk of choice and warm it up.  Sweeten with honey to taste.  Can be stored in the fridge or even frozen.

Yogi Tea is a health-promoting beverage and a tonic for the whole body. It strengthens the nervous system, energizes the body, clears the mind, and is both a remedy and preventive measure for colds, allergies, and other illnesses.
via Yoga Yoga

Five Things For Friday: Clean Recipes

If you don't have a foam roller can I just tell you... GO GET ONE!  It will be the best frenemy you have ever had!!

Ok guys.  You know my goal is to get in to some booty shorts at some point this year.  I've been trying really hard to keep my diet super clean.  I am on MyFitnessPal {my username is Jennwarnick} every day putting in my stuff and trying to eat a lot of veggies and protein.  I've made my diary public so you can check out what I've been eating for ideas.  I've had a couple people ask me for the recipe links of stuff they have seen me eating on there.  So here are a few of my faves I thought I'd share...

No bake energy balls from Gimme Some Oven.  

I work out first thing in the morning and since I try to stay in bed as long as possible I don't have time to eat any breakfast.  Not that I really want to either.  I'm still waking up and jumping around on a full stomach is no bueno.    So I started keeping these in the fridge.  I just grab a couple every morning on my way out the door and they give me just enough pep to make it through my workout.  She has a couple different varations on her site you should try them all out. 

Ginger Cilantro Baked Tilapia from The Kitchn

This is probably my favorite dinner right now.  It is so easy and we all love it.  Well, Ivy just likes her tilapia baked plain but loves it when I make this dinner.  I just use the frozen tilapias from Costco.  The longest part is cooking the brown rice to go with it.  

Source: biggest-loser-recipes.com via Jennifer on Pinterest

Biggest Loser Pancakes

This is our new go to pancakes.  I add about a half teaspoon of baking powder to the mix.  They are really yummy and super filling.  Even Ivy who could probably win the world championship pancake eating contest only eats three.

Sweet Potato Pancakes from The Gracious Pantry

These are on my list to try.  I am loving sweet potatoes right now and these just sound way yummy to me.  If you are looking for a good source of clean eating recipes check out The Gracious Pantry.  Tons and tons of good information on there.

  
Crockpot Tortilla Soup by Chef in Training

Umm this is our favorite soup.  To keep it clean you need to nix the all the cheese and sour cream and tortilla chips.  Try making your own by just cutting up some corn tortillas and tossing with a little bit of olive oil and salt.  Bake at 400 until crispy.  We also add avocado.  I cut out the chile powder so Ivy will eat it.  I also have just used diced tomatoes and some onions instead of Rotel.  Might be awesome for the Super Bowl eh?  

Have a fun weekend!  And I'd love any other recipes that you have been loving so go ahead and share em! Also I'm thinking Monday is a good day to start Round Three of the Ruffled Sunshine 24 Day Challenge.  See ya then!

2013 Spiritual Goals

About a month ago in Relief Society we had a lesson about being good moms.  And the teacher referenced a talk that said "be brilliant at the basics".  Just that one little quote struck something in me and it has helped me decide what my spiritual goal is for this year.  

So I got out my notebook and I started making a list of the basic things in my life.   I kind of got overwhelmed.  Because under each basic thing is a million things to do to be brilliant at that one simple thing!  And next thing I knew, my list wasn't basic anymore. It was something like this.  

Be a brilliant mom

 -dont do that

 - do more of this

- teach her this

- a

-b

-c

-d

all the way to z.

And it was that way with each thing I thought I wanted to be brilliant at!  So I had to take a step back and decide what were the most important things to be brilliant at.  I want to be a brilliant mom, wife and friend/sister/daughter.  The tricky part seemed to be figuring out how to be brilliant at those things without having 1000 things on my to do list every day.  

Then I was reading in the Book of Mormon when Alma is talking to his sons.  And a scripture leaped out at me.  Its Alma 37:44 and it says...

O my son, do not let us be slothful because of the easiness of the way; for so was it was with our fathers; for so was it prepared for them, that if they would look they might live; even so is it with us.  The way is prepared and if we will look we might live forever.

I've thought a lot about this and it is how I came up with what I need to be brilliant at.  Every week at church there are those Sunday School answers to just about every question -- read your scriptures and say your prayers. It sure sounds easy but I'll be honest I've gotten pretty lazy about those things.   I was counting reading those picture scriptures with Ivy before bed as scripture study.  And family prayer, plus little prayers here or there in my head counts as personal prayer right?   Uh, not so much.  

SO, long story short.  My spiritual goal this year is to become brilliant at personal scripture study and personal prayer. I really feel that doing these to things will help me be the kind of mom, wife, and friend that I want to be.  It will help me make better decisions every day to bring me and those around me closer to Heavenly Father.   I've pulled out my actual scriptures and I read and I ponder.  I try and take notes.  It is keeping me so much more focused.  I'm trying to say my prayers before I get in to bed, actually saying them out loud so my mind doesn't wander.  I'm not perfect at it every day thats for sure, but hopefully by the end of the year I can be kind of brilliant at it.  

2013 Fitness Goals

Is it too late to tell you my New Years Resolutions?  I hope not.   I really wanted to get them written down.  They have been sitting in my head and I'm kind of visual so this will help solidify them for me.  First up are my fitness goals for this year.  

Nothing too crazy.  The booty shorts one is going to be the hardest for me.  I don't want to run around in them or anything.  I just want to know that I could wear them and feel ok about it.  And you know the whole swimsuit thing...  Its going to be hard because of the whole pear shape thing.  But hopefully all of these other goals will help me get that one done.  

How about you?  Did you make any fitness goals this year?

The deets yo!

Wow.  This year took off like a shot didn't it?!  Is it really the end of January already? Has it really been a whole month since Christmas!  I didn't mean to leave you hanging after our exciting news {which you should check out by the way.}  Oh what you missed it the first time?  Here you go...  its only three minutes.  

I know its just so fun to watch isn't it?  I don't blame you for watching it again.  Ivy is a natural.  

Well with all that going on we are just waiting. Busy, but waiting.   SO I thought I'd fill you in with all the fun details.  

But first lets clear the air.   No I 'm not pregnant.  Haha.  That was a common misconception and in hindsight I suppose we should have not used ultrasound pictures.  But he is too cute not to share!  Ok now that thats out of the way here's the story of our best Christmas present ever.  

On the second monday in December I got a text from Darin to call him.  So I did.  Uhhh let me just tell you that the words out of his mouth were not what I was expecting at all.  He told me a birth mom had picked us and our profile had been taken down.  Hubba Whaaa??!! Well I instantly started crying and Darin's voice was all shaky which is boy for crying.  He only knew a little bit of information like the fact that our birthmom was having a boy, she was due in April and we would get to talk to her on Wednesday.  I was shaking.  My whole body was shaking.  And when I told Ivy.  Oh I wish I had it on video but it was the best every.  She started jumping up and down on the bed.  And since I was on the phone she started screaming, I'm getting a baby brother!!!! I'm getting a baby brother!!!!  Into the pillow.  I died.  We quickly decided to only let our parents know until we talked to her, cuz really how can you not tell someone that kind of news!?

I made this on my phone that night.  The very first feeling that washed over me when Darin told me the news was just this immense love.  I swear it was pouring right down from heaven and in to my heart.    You know how a little kid stands at the edge of the moving walkway, stuck and scared to get on?  That was me.  For way too long.  And in that moment it all changed and I was moving forward again.  

I posted this picture that we took at 12:12 on 12.12.12.  Did you know that was the last repetitive date we will ever have? And it was a moment I can't ever forget.   What were we doing?  Oh, just talking to our birthmom.  Nervously making small talk at first, and hanging up the the phone an hour later, knowing that she was meant for us and we were meant for her.  She thinks we are cool. We think she is amazing.    Do you know what she said?  That she was just so glad she could give us such an awesome Christmas present.  I love her.  Forever.  She also said some fun things like how she liked that Darin looked like Keith Urban.  That might have been my favorite part.  

After that we decided since it was so close to Christmas that we would make it our Christmas present to let everyone know the news.  The following Sunday we made our little video.  Then we packaged up the discs and mailed them out.  And waited.  It was SO hard for some of us to keep a secret.  I was fine.  The other two not so much.  But we made it and we had the best Christmas!  

And new year.  

And now we wait for April.  Ivy has a countdown chain in her room.  Darin signed up for those babycenter emails that tell you your baby is the size of an english cucumber or other various vegetables.  

Baby brother is always on her mind.  Multiple times during the day she will say things like I can't wait to teach baby brother....

and we are going to have to do this with baby brother...

and can we play birthmom?  Can we watch birthing videos?  

Always on her mind.  Always on our minds.  

+++

So thats the deets.  I can't tell you how much we appreciated all of your kind comments and emails.  THANK YOU!! 

How has your January been?!

Happy Christmas!!

Happy  Christmas everyone!  Its been a magical day here.   It is even snowing!  We made a video for our Christmas card this year that I hope you will watch.  I hope your day is a blessed one.  Thank you for being a part of our lives.

Our Adoption Profile

Three years ago as I watched Ivy open Christmas presents I got tears in my eyes.  I just looked at Darin and said she needs brothers and sisters to share this with.  Over three years I have started and stopped and wished and faltered.  Seasons and years have gone by and it came down to me staring at the computer screen crying because I don't know what to say.   Too many emotions to put in to telling someone PICK US.  Pick us.  Please.  And then Darin says let me have a turn.  And its done.  In ten minutes.  How do boys do that?  

It has taken  us almost three years to finally finish.  Thank you to every single person that has prayed, and pushed and cheered us on to get it done.  Our adoption profile is now online to view.  If you or someone you know is looking to place their baby for adoption, maybe think of us.  We are so grateful to you.  

Happy Birthday D.

darin birthday from Darin Warnick on Vimeo.

Happy Birthday D.  I fall in love all over again with you every day.  So much of my triumphs come from you supporting me and cheering me on.   You step in and take over when my heart can't handle it any more. I am forever grateful for that.  Thank you for being the dad Ivy needs and the husband I always dreamed of.  I can't wait to spend forever with you.



photo credits...
Foto Novella
Stacy Marie Photography
Speckled Hen Photography

music... Ingrid Michaelson I can't help falling in love with you

The Lincoln Savings Plan

At the beginning of the year I started the Lincoln savings plan.  All you have to do is save any five dollar bills that you get.   I got an envelope and wrote Lincoln Savings Plan on it. Any time I got change from something that was a $5 bill I tucked it in to my envelope.  When the envelope got full, I wrote how much was in it, sealed it up and hid it in my underwear drawer.   Then I got out a new envelope and kept going.   I started the plan to save up money to take Ivy to Disneyland for Christmas.  Well, then we had a private adoption opportunity that we were so happy about.  So we decided to go to Disneyland for Ivy's birthday in July instead because we would have a 4 month old baby at Christmas.  It became kind of a last hurrah.  A trip together with just the three of us before our family changed.  

Yeah that adoption part didn't work out but what did work out was we had an awesome time in California, the highlight of our year really.   And bonus, July is our busiest month at Greenies so we just went ahead and payed for the trip instead of using all the five dollar bills I'd been saving.  

Since then I have just kept adding to my stash of cash and yesterday when we FINALLY finished up our profile for LDS family services {the adoption agency we are working with} I pulled out my envelopes from the underwear drawer and guess what!  I have more than enough for our deposit towards adoption.  In 10 months I was able to save over $1000. Now that is a fat stack of Lincolns.  The rest I kept in the envelope to keep going on my saving for the rest of our adoption expenses.  

I kind of got the idea from Ivy's piggy bank actually.   We had been sticking any change and any $1 bills in to that ballerina pig for a couple years.  It got full at the beginning of the year and took it to the bank for safe keeping.  That fat little piggy had almost $400 dollars in her belly!  I figured if saving $1 bills could add up like that then $5 would add up a bit faster.  Guess I was right eh?  

Guess you better get an envelope and start saving!    

Life Lately

Lately I have been dying from the worst cold ever.  Even getting my hair did didn't keep it away.  

This little lady and I have been getting along marvelously.  Afternoon kindergarten definitely agrees with us.  We have time to make cookies, do homework and read a thousand books before she is even off to school.  Yesterday she told me she wished I was her teacher so she wouldn't have to miss me while she was at school.  My heart grew three sizes.  

Wednesday is the new date night for my boyfriend and me.  Ivy has ballet on Wednesday nights and there is nowhere to sit and watch or anything.  Lucky though its right by Greenies.  So I drop off my little ballerina and then head off for some one on one time with Darin.  Our date of choice is bike riding along the river while catching up and reconnecting during our busy weeks.  I'm loving Wednesdays a lot.  

"The greatest good we do is for each other. "

>>  Mother Theresa  <<

I've been trying to do more good and it feels so good.  

Hope you are having a good week!

Round 2. Or 1. Either way.

Uhh so Round 1 of the 24 day challenge is up!  How did it go?!  I told you guys I was failing miserably but I reined it in and I came out ok in the end.  I'd say I was on track 50 percent of the time.  Yeah, not so great.  I have excuses but they are just excuses so I'll spare you that.  Was it harder than you thought?  Easier?  I'd love to hear what the challenge ended up being for you.  

And guess wha-at. Remember that whole repeat part?  Yeah I hit repeat today.  So whether you failed completely and want to give it another go, or loved it so much you want to keep going, or anything in between I hope you'll join me for round 2 of the 24 day challenge!  Lets refresh ourselves about what the challenge is shall we?

Got all that?  If you are joining me for the first time or need a refresher the nitty gritty can be found 

HERE...

...and you can get your measurement tracking worksheet HERE.   

What do you think.  Are you down to try again?  I'll be here cheering you on.  And I am fully planning on rocking it this time.  FOR SURE.  I won't let you down.  I have a solid goal this time and a I've shifted my focus to doing this for the right reasons.  Plus my birthday is at the end of the month and I want to be the best I can be by then! Oh and I've got a good reward picked out too.  See I'm already more pumped up.  I hope you are too.  

Cuz its on.  And its starts now. 

Halfway Point

Also the point where I tell you I am completely failing at my own challenge.  Here are three completely honest if it kills me things I've learned about myself so far from this 24 day challenge...

1.  I am not motivated by a pedicure in the slightest.  Not one little bit.  Nor am I motivated by trying to be better than someone else.  Turns out being vain and selfish isn't very inspiring.  

Source: reasonstobefit.tumblr.com via Jennifer on Pinterest

Today I decided I was doing this for me only.  Being my best self has nothing to do with how much better my best self is than someone else's best self.  Ugh aren't those terrible thoughts?  That wasn't my intention when I came up with this challenge but I dwelled on it long enough that my thoughts turned that way.  You know how they say comparison is the thief of joy?  Well its true.  I already knew that but I let it take the joy out of this for me.  And yeah pedicures.  If I'm not motivated enough to get them any other time, it probably isn't going to be enough incentive to be tough.

*Lesson Learned- Positive thinking and not worrying about others is key.*

2.  The second thing I've discovered is that I don't have the willpower to make really yummy treats for the ladies I visit teach and not eat one.  Or even stop at one.

Source: bakersroyale.com via Jennifer on Pinterest

But seriously, brownie cookies?! I should have known better.   If you have to cheat, make it something that makes you really happy right?  Sorry if I haven't visit taught you yet.  I can't face another batch of these without giving in to the pressure, so you are going to have to have something store bought.  But know I don't think any less of you.  

*Lesson Learned- Baking is out for me. 

3.  Muscles are my motivation.  I like getting stronger and tougher.  I like buying workout clothes more than regular clothes. I will pick weights over cardio ANY day.   If you aren't sold on why strength training is important, this is an excellent article comparing the benefits of strength training and cardio.  I also love this list of 62 Fitness and Diet Rules . Both have helped me recommit myself to this dang thing.  That and I did pushups yesterday and I can't do near as many as I used to.

*Lesson Learned-Stick with what truly motivates you.

So if you needed a reset like me today would be a great day to do it.  Whether you've been rocking it or not its time to take measurements!  Or you can pass and wait till the end.  Either way we are halfway done!  I hope you are doing better than me. ;)

InstaFriday 9.14.12

Fall is beating down my door.  And try as I might I can't seem to get away from it.  The one thing that makes it being September already is that it is football season.  I love everything about it but I love the most snuggling up with Dtox to watch a game.

 September has also brought us go outside more weather, back to reality, a schedule and some good old fashioned silliness.

 The same day Ivy started kindergarten I also became a soccer mom.  And a dance mom.  And a busy mom.  D reminds me that I brought this on myself.  Ivy and I love it.  Before her first soccer game we had to have a serious talk about no cartwheels during the game.  

We had our first day of boot weather.  Even I couldn't resist.  But it was a one time deal.  I'm saving the rest for when its actually fall.  Next week BOO!  I finally busted out the canner today too.  We picked up peaches to do Monday and I got our first batch of applesauce done.  Yay for being domesticated and stuff!  

Have a great weekend!