Since I posted my health challenge last month (man, time flies) I’ve been plugging along. I’m doing what I can to eliminate processed foods from the home (that one is fairly easy) but struggling on the weekends and those days that are exceptionally busy around this house. I’ve been keeping a journal and each Sunday as I do my menu planning and grocery list I write up a few things that I need to concentrate on for the week ahead.

This week’s goals:

Those first five steps in my health challenge are really where I need to buckle down.

1 | We really are pretty good compared to where we started, but there are some things that are tough for us to let go of in the whole processed foods department. My bagels. My pita bread. Taco shells. Taco seasoning. Yogurt (the yogurt I eat). We do have lunchmeat (but it’s the least scary one that I could find). My laughing cow cheese wheels I’m not sure are as healthy as they could be. My bagels are a staple in my everyday meal selection but I’m looking at staying with my recent switching out of that bagel for a piece of my very favorite bread that is really rather healthy (utah locals, if you aren’t eating this bread, you should try it!)…so far so good, the calories are a bit lower and it is actually more filling.

2 | I have meal idea lists that I have posted for my kids for when they make their breakfasts and lunches. The lists are posted above their daily checklists so that when they come running to me asking for a snack I can just direct them to the lists. In general I think we are all pretty good at following those guidelines.

3 | The water issue, however, is hard for me. I’ve been able to eliminate that dreaded cherry coke that I adore so much but have replaced it with coke zero and am definitely not getting in my recommended amounts of water in each day. My older two kids are great about this, but I need to get my youngest son to cool it with the Crystal Light and for me to nix the soda.

4 | Enlist my family and friends…I’m actually pretty good there, just need to make better weekend choices on eating out. I’m also on myfitnesspal if anyone else is as well, and I use a fitbit.

5 | Checking the sugar content in foods should be almost a non issue once the overly processed foods are out of the house. I’m really pretty good about the groceries that we buy for this task, it’s the eating out that really hurts me with this one.

I’m also being very diligent about my menu planning and my grocery list. I use a planner from Crystal Wilkerson that I love, it’s been a huge help!

The Big Owens Peanut Butter Debate

Peanut butter is something that we go through pretty quickly at our house. It used to be something that I hated and therefore didn’t eat, but the kids and the hubby loved and ate it by the jarful. I didn’t really know any better and just would buy whichever of those 2 big brands was on sale for the week in both creamy and crunchy and they would be devoured. Then I started eating peanut butter when I started following certain meal plans and once I started looking closer at the labels (I wasn’t a label reader before I decided to try and eat clean) I decided to go back the the good old peanut butter standard that I used to eat when I was little. Adams Natural Peanut Butter. But that’s where the debate started. Right there on the label it says to refrigerate the peanut butter. So I did. Hubby told me not to, but I can be a bit of a rule followers, so hubby would have to microwave it to warm it up to eat it. He hated it. Kids stopped eating peanut butter. So then I saw the so called Natural versions of those big two brands and saw that they didn’t contain any ingredients that I couldn’t pronounce, so I went that route and everyone was happy again. Then I started paying more attention to the sugar content in the foods we were eating and told hubby we needed to go back to the refrigerated kind. He said that was just fine, but that we could not refrigerate it. What??? And not follow the rules? He said that was crazy, so when we got home I got out the jar to show him where it said that it must be refrigerated. It wasn’t there. But I couldn’t just not refrigerate it. He wouldn’t give in, I wouldn’t give in. I tried looking on their website and couldn’t really get a concrete answer. So I decided to call Adams and present them with our debate. And the woman that answered the phone laughed at me. And then comforted me in telling me that she has to answer this question daily. And then proceeded to tell me that my husband was correct. So it’s a win win – I get my healthier peanut butter and he get’s peanut butter that isn’t ice cold.

And for those of you in Utah that might be up for a fun event: I decided to sign up for my third sprint tri for this spring: Women of Steel. I did the event last year and I’m not sure I’m looking forward to it yet, but I’m glad that I bit the bullet and just did it. Anyone else?

Last year my husband received this amazing gift from my mother and step dad…it’s a Major Award and he was oh, so excited. It stands front and center in our big front window and every time I’m outside I get lots of compliments on our awesome leg lamp.  It’s pretty classy.

The kids had their holiday program on their last day of school for the year and both Jarrod and I were in attendance. These events always get me teary…seeing all the little kids so festive and happy about the season and so excited to perform for their parents and loved ones. Every year the 6th graders perform a very special and fun song. My kids have been looking forward to being 6th graders forever and finally my oldest got his chance to do this very fun song. Next year, both the 5th and 6th graders will be moving on from elementary school, so this was a very special year. My daughter was a bit disappointed that she didn’t get her turn, but she did amazing with her 5th grade performance. And my youngest had lots of fun with his selection of songs for his grade.

The next day we ran some errands and then started our baking. The kids were beyond excited to get going on making some cookies and we started off with some Spritz cookies using the recipe written out by my mom when I was a kid (maybe even before I was born) and the same cookie press that we used when I was little. We doubled the recipe which put my Kitchen Aid to the test, and the kids had great fun sifting all of the flour into a super tall mountain in the bowl.

Mom couldn’t get enough of his sweet little wrinkled feet, so I had to start off with this image highlighting his perfect feet and tiny little toes:

Remember to bring along your children’s favorite things for your sessions, if we’re shooting at your home or in my studio or even out and about. It’s important for your children to have something to lean on if they aren’t quite comfortable and ready to get their photos taken. We don’t want to push them too fast, it’s best to let the session unfold and allow your child to trust me and feel open with me as I’m holding the big camera in their face…that’s when we get the most fun and honest images of your loved one.

The photo below reminds me of my mom and the trips we would take up to her sister’s cabin and walk through the woods…she would always comment on all of the moss that was growing on the trees and all around the paths. So, mom…here’s some moss for you

This last shot above is one of my favorites from the morning. If you’re still needing to get your fall portraits done, don’t hesitate to get on the schedule. There is limited availability in mini sessions and there are also some weekday slots open, but they are filling up fast!

A new option for sessions with carrieowens|photography has arrived. Studio minis here in my home studio by appointment provide clients with an opportunity to capture milestones and other great times that may not otherwise call for a full session. The sessions last anywhere from 20-30 minutes and are available for children over 6 months only (it is best of they are able to sit up on their own). Your private online gallery will contain 10-30 of the best images we get during our session and then you simply choose your favorite 10 images and you will receive a disc to print at your leisure. These sessions are only available for 1 to 3 people. Please email or call for availability.

I’m guessing this is how mom and dad feel most of the time But I will say…they handle having six busy kids extremely well!