7 Weeks!!

How far along: 7 weeks as of August 2, 2015!

Total weight gain/loss: 115.00 same as before.

Maternity clothes: Just wearing dresses or workout clothes.  

Sleep: So tired... I am literally falling asleep typing this and its 9:30 in the morning. My dreams are so freaking crazy sometimes! This week I had a dream about a snake biting our dog in the desert, giving birth while trying to walk to the hospital (like full on details people! It was a boy!), and last but not least I was Peter Pan.. Sometimes these dreams are fun to wake up to but vivid dreams also mean vivid nightmares. Terrifying people. 

Best moment this week: This was a really, really hard week for me. But i'd have to say the best moment was finally feeling better and able to get out of bed and eat food like a normal person.

Food cravings: Nothing really. Everything sounds gross. 

Food aversions: Candy, anything sugar and sweet.

Gender: I had another dream last night that it was a boy. So I really have no idea at this point! 

Labor signs: Nope! 

Pregnancy symptoms: I am sooooooo sick. Literally been in the bathroom or bed 24/7. Some days I don't even want to move it's so bad! I finally went to the doctors on friday and they gave me some medicine to help and it has been helping a ton but it makes me super sleepy! 

What I miss: Not feeling sick every minute of every day. 

What I am looking forward to: First appointment and feeling better! 

Milestones: Only one more week until our appointment!  

One tip I could give a first time mom who is also 7 weeks along: Just give in and puke whenever you want. It's okay. 

Why I Chose to go Organic

I know what many of you are thinking... "Oh boy! Here goes another one!"

I know this because I was one of you. I was the one always criticizing those who chose to go organic saying things like, 

"You are spending extra money for nothing!"

"We've been eating this food all our lives and we turned out just fine!"

The truth is I watched a show(s) that changed how I see food entirely.

The earth is full of so much variety when it comes to food, and that food is full of rich vitamins and minerals our body needs to stay healthy and strong. So the thing that's hard for me to understand when it comes to our food these days is why are we completely changing how food is made? 

In the show(s) I watched it shows and explains just how the food companies these days work. They work with only one thing on their minds... money. They don't care about the farmers, the food or us. They only see the dollar signs. And that just didn't seem okay to me. 

We should know exactly what we are eating and exactly where it is coming from. I don't need a genetically modified chicken, or the poor cow that spent its entire life at a factory waiting to be killed for me to have that dollar cheese burger. They deserve more than that and so do I!

So organic is the way I went. 

I feel so much better knowing that my family is getting healthy, REAL, natural food. And my body is feeling the benefits as well. I have more energy when I make food from scratch and not a box. I have a better mood when I eat organic and I feel happy knowing that my body is getting what it needs. 

For those of you who think organic is too expensive, it really isn't. You will maybe be spending $2-$5 more for the same items you already purchase. In the long run your body will thank you for spending a little more for giving it a lot more.

If I had to give a few tips for those looking to change their lifestyle habits when it comes to food this would be it:

1. If it comes from a box, don't eat it. Rarely does it have any nutritional value for you.

2. Check how much sugar is in the daily items you eat. You'll be surprised. Many things you "think" are healthy really aren't. That "low fat" or "0 calorie" item you picked up really isn't that great for you. They usually replace the fat or calories with sugar making your liver work overtime to produce more insulin. And when insulin is being produced in large amounts it gets stored as fat. Quick fact: everything on a food label shows the daily value next to it besides sugar. Seems those food companies are being a little sneaky.

This is a food label for yogurt. Lots of sugar for something you'd think would be healthy for you. 

Make sure you know the difference between added sugar and natural sugar. (Fresh fruits our natural sugar.) 

"According to data from the U.S. in 2008, people are consuming over 60 pounds (28 kg) of added sugar per year and this does not include fruit juices. In 2008 the average intake was 76.7 grams per day, which equals 19 teaspoons or 306 calories."

Recommended daily sugar intake:

• Men: 150 calories per day (37.5 grams or 9 teaspoons).
• Women: 100 calories per day (25 grams or 6 teaspoons).

http://authoritynutrition.com/how-much-sugar-per-day/

3. Soda is the devil. I do not drink soda. I haven't since middle school. Of course I’ll have a little sparkling cider here and there but I do not drink anything with carbonation on a day to day basis. It is SOOO bad for you people! I know it tastes so yummy and can even become addictive at times but get rid of it! Once you stop drinking it for a while you do not crave it and when you do have it, it does not taste the same. (When I have soda it literally burns, and I can feel it burn all the way down into my stomach!) My favorite saying of all time, "Soda makes you slow." (For all you athletes)

4. Not all calories are created equal. 60 calories in a soda is NOT the same as 60 calories in almonds. Soda will give you a fast sugar high followed by a crash of lost energy. Almonds will process in your body different giving you gradual energy throughout the day.

5. Water is everything. Don't forget to drink your 8 glasses a day. It changes everything!

Sorry this might be a long and boring post for many of you but I hope you decide to make a change for the better in your life. You WILL feel the difference I promise!

Here is a link to the show that changed my outlook on food:

http://www.takepart.com/foodinc

Thank you for stopping by and be on the lookout for more posts later this week.

Love Always,

The Crazy Collards

Workout Lover

Long time no talk my friends!! Hope you are all having an amazing week so far! I thought I'd get a post up about one of my all-time favorite things in the world...

Workout clothes!

Guys, I could literally spend a million dollars on workout clothes.

I am all for the comfy and cute and workout clothes do just that!

Today I put together a simple workout outfit that can be easily recreated by anyone.

Enjoy! (Links to everything will be listed below)

Shorts

Bag

Top

Socks

Shoes (I bought these a while ago so this is the closest I could get)

I hope you enjoyed this post and get a little inspiration for your next workout outfit!

Love Always, 

The Crazy Collards 

Giveaway!!!

Hey everyone! I know it's been a minute but I am going to make this post short and sweet! A lot has been going on in our lives recently (Zacky's second surgery fast approaching) so I've been taking some time off the blog. I'm sorry but I’ll be posting more next week while I am in the hospital.

Well back to what this post is all about, giveaway time!! Yay!!

I am planning to start doing giveaways once a month, every other month it will be a larger prize!! I am so excited about this you don't even know!! (:

Anyway, as you may know I LOVE workout clothes. Every stores workout section just sucks me right in!! So recently I went into Lululemon.... and died. Everything is so beautiful and sooo unique! Some of the things feel like nothing I've ever felt before!!! So I thought I’d share the love of a product from there I have been really enjoying!

My hair is short so when I workout it’s hard to make sure it all stays in a ponytail, so I bought one of Lululemon's headbands and it was life changing! It keeps my hair in place and DOES NOT MOVE!! So I am giving one away!!! Yay!!!

At the bottom of this post you will find the entry details!!! Good luck!!! (:

To be entered in this giveaway you must do the following:

-Follow me on Instagram @mrscourtcollard (link is also on the right hand side of my blog)

-Must like the picture on Instagram

-And comment on the picture on Instagram saying done

-Tagging 2 friends will get you a second entry!

Contest ends 03/20/15

Good luck!!!

Those who are entered will be chosen at random. I will be writing each name down and picking it out of a hat (i'll post a video on Instagram and contact you there!) (:

30 Day Challenge- Leg Day

Okay guys, it's finally here!

More from my 30 day challenge (please feel free to call this a 90 day challenge since I haven't posted about it in forever) (; I am so sorry I haven't been updating you on this. To be honest I wasn't doing everything I KNOW I can do to stick with this so I decided no better time then the present (and the new year) to get started again.

In this post I'll be sharing what I love to do at home to workout my legs.

I do not own a gym pass so when I workout it is either outside or in the comfort of my own home.

 To give you all a brief update, I did/do play soccer. I am most confident about my legs because throughout the years and years of soccer they've never really been a problem for me. But this year I am looking to define all the muscles in my body and so my legs can always improve.

 Leg day is my favorite! I tend to do it about 2 times per week because I enjoy it so much. I love feeling sore the next morning and feeling like I can barley walk. I don't know if it's just me but it makes me feel like it's working!

So lets jump into it.

Stair jumps.

I do these to get my heart rate going after I do a warm up run.
These are simple, use a stair and jump up and down.

Chair lifts

These are pretty much the same concept as the stair jumps. Up and down (do not jump because you will probably die!) Ha. Anyways, you start on either side and lift yourself up and down then switch to the other side.

Squat jumps

These are a little hard to explain so please forgive me in advance. I start off with my feet shoulder width apart, and then I jump from one leg to the next. Putting the leg in the air behind the leg I am using to jump with. Keep your knees bent and you will feel the burn!

Calf Raises.

Pretty sure everyone knows how to do these, I use a stair so it makes it harder.
I also turn my feet in and out to work different muscles.

These are the basics for me and I hope you find them useful in your home. More from the 30 day challenge coming soon!

Love Always,
The Crazy Collards

2015

Happy New Year everyone!!!

Can you believe it is already 2015?

Where the heck did 2014 go?

2014 was one amazing year for me! I started a new job, bought our first home, I got engaged, and I got married to the love of my life. Looking back all I can say is I am truly blessed. 2014 you were so good to my family and me. You will forever hold so many special memories of mine.

I cannot wait to begin 2015 and see all the amazing things it has in store for my family and me!

To start off every year, I always make a few goals for myself and I thought I'd share a few with you so maybe you can all help me stay on track!

My number one goal is probably the same as everyone else but ya know, you gotta try and get it this year! (;

1. Get my "dream" body. This year I really want to make an effort to watch what I eat, and workout a little more.

2. Be consistent with my blog. I want to make sure that I am at least posting two or three times a week. I have really been slacking lately but I have some fun things in store, and I am excited to get everything going.

3. I want to strive to work on the relationships with those around. Sometimes it is hard to give enough attention to everyone in your life, and I feel bad about it. I don't get to see my family as much as I’d like and I get really upset about it. So this year I really want to make an effort to spend quality time with those around me.

4. Have a positive attitude daily. I'll admit it, I am a complainer. Zacky likes to tell me "stop complaining all the time." I didn't notice it that much until he pointed it out to me. I complain way too much and it needs to stop. So I made a goal to have a more positive attitude. I am so very blessed and I need to realize that and stop complaining.

5. Be a better wife/always be working to build my marriage. It's not that I am a bad wife but I can always be better. Zack works really hard to provide enough so that we can have and do the things we want/need and I want to make sure that I provide for him as well. I want to always be looking for ways to strengthen and build our marriage. I want to work towards our dreams not only as a husband and wife but as individuals. I want to look back next year and think about the struggles and triumphs we went through to work towards what we've always wanted together. 

6. Start a new adventure. I want to make sure this year is full of adventure and so I am going to make an effort to get out of my comfort zone and do some new things and face my fears. I hope that those around me can do the same.

These were a few off my list that were important to me that I thought I’d share. Let's make 2015 the best year yet! I can't wait to make some new memories. (P.S. I made a memory jar. Pretty sure I’ll be the only one putting memories in it but that’s okay! Haha)

I'd love to hear what some of your goals are for the New Year! Thanks for checking in and being a part of our 2014 year!

Enjoy a little recap of 2014 with us. 

 

 

                                                  

Love Always, 

The Crazy Collards

Weekend Getaway

Good afternoon everyone! I hope everyone had a fabulous weekend enjoying this beautiful fall weather! This past weekend I took a trip with Zackys family to Moab and it was absolutely amazing!

We camped near Dead Horse Point and I loved taking the time to visit the amazing view. It amazes me how breath taking nature truely is.

I am deathly afraid of heights, it makes my heart beat fast and I just want to cry. My cute husband of mine is really good at testing my limits and likes to ONLY take pictures near the edge.

We also went riding like we always do, although I didnt get very many pictures of that because I stayed back at camp for one of the trips everyone went on. Zack's family takes rides very seriously and they only go on trials that give you near death experiences, so... I like to just take naps instead. (: I did however get some of the CUTEST pictures of Adian. Adian is Zacky's aunts little boy, who is autistic. And this trip was the first time he has EVER driven one of the four wheelers and he loved every second of it!

This was his face 99% of the time, it was so cute!

This trip was so much fun and I had a blast spending time outdoors before the weather changes. Its so crazy to me how everyone is just growing up, it's always a great time spending time with Zacky's family. Here is a few more pictures from our weekend getaway. Enjoy!

Love always,

The Crazy Collards