Getting Healthy: Snacks

Daniel and I have been making a solid effort in the last few months to really kick some bad health habits.  We were doing pretty good, too...until we went on a month-long vacation.  However, we are home and so ready to get back in the groove! I thought it might be cool to post about the changes we're making, just in case it inspires any of you, and we can all use this space to swap health tips! I'm a firm believer that getting healthy is about small, long-lasting changes, so as we're introducing them into our lifestyle, I'll share them!

Episode One: Snacking!

That's kind of a bad word in the health dictionary isn't it? Usually the first thing you think of when you hear it is potato chips and cookies. Well, don't worry, snacking is actually really good in moderation. Healthy snacks can keep your metabolism going between meals, so long as you're not eating out of boredom.

My mother-in-law has kind of a brilliant way to encourage healthy snacking. It's so awesome, I couldn't resist trying it out and sharing with you guys!

Ta-da!! This is the designated snack drawer of our fridge! Each snack comes in a little snack-size bag (not sandwich-sized) for convenience. And let me tell you how convenient that is! 

Scenario: You're feeling peckish and have two choices: grab that bag of potato chips, or cut up some celery. Ummm I don't know about you, but just the thought of dirtying a cutting board and knife just for a few veggie sticks makes me dive into those chips every time! 

Scenario 2: You're feeling munchy before dinner and while checking the fridge for anything edible, you spy the pre-portioned snacks you prepared. So many options, too! I've already forgotten about the potato chips from last weekend's bbq. 

Now, I've been doing this myself for about two weeks, and it really works! I have cookies in the freezer, crackers and granola bars in the cupboard, but I end up grabbing fruit or vegetables every time! It's as if I now immediately associate "snacks" with the healthy stuff in the fridge. It's like magic! (Sure I tend to favor the fruits, but I'm working on it.) I love the convenience and the knowledge that if I can have just one, there's no way I'm over-eating. Not to mention, I don't feel gross afterward!

Here's our snack list so far:

-Small apples

-Celery and peanut butter

-Bag o' grapes

-Assorted nuts or Trail mix

-Carrots and ranch

-Nectarines

-Small peaches

I'll probably be keeping a few in rotation to avoid boredom, so if you have any more ideas, shout them out! Happy snacking!!

Life Lately: Fall Catch-up Edition

A lot a lot a lot(!!!) has happened since my last post. For that, I sincerely apologize! Now to business (For those of you that follow my Instagram, probably none of this will be news...hahaha!):

NUMBER ONE: I have a tiny female human living inside me, ready to burst out in approximately 3 months! And she's doing a happy dance right at this moment. Boy was it hard to concentrate on the lessons in church today! She's the Energizer Bunny! [[While we have a particular name picked out, we want to have a backup, just in case. This is most certainly an invitation to share your ideas if you're ok with the possibility of me using them. ;) ]]

#2. We spent the 7-week summer break in Arizona with our awesome families and had a blast! We went camping, hung out with awesome friends, ate at Joe's BBQ...everything we've been missing about home! My sweet sister-in-law got our moms together and the three of them put on a beautiful baby shower! They are the greatest!! We're home now, along with a bunch of storage stuff that we'd been missing desperately. (Welcome home, Pyrex Casserole Dish!!) Over the last week, we've scrubbed the place clean and organized everything. And I mean everything!! We knew that with school starting and baby coming, it was now or never. What a relief to have it done! (Sorry for my reveling, but housework really rocks when everything has its place!)

Numero Tres: I switched my major and career goals. While I loved music to death, I lack the confidence. And though I probably would've loved photography as more than a hobby, I realized my ultimate potential before that could take off. Sometime in the next few years, I will become a certified DVM! Animals have always been my passion, and I just know that being able to make them happy will make me really happy! With one child on her way, there are bound to be more, so I'm keeping my timeline ultra flexible. Right now, I'm focusing on finishing my Bachelor's degree, then I can play it by ear after that.

4) I'm an Auntie!!! My sister had her beautiful baby boy: Xander Kane! We were so happy we could be there for his birth. He is such a special little spirit! And how cool is it that he gets a little cousin so close to his age?? When we're back in Arizona, our little ones will have playdates galore!

#FIVE: Daniel and I celebrated our first anniversary this summer! We stayed a couple nights in Logan, UT, went to the temple to do sealings (and didn't make it through a whole one before I nearly passed out... -.-), and got to see my family for a little mini-reunion down in Cedar Hills! My mom took some incredible pictures for us up in the canyon. Yes, I just barely got around to editing them...hahaha!

(What a hunk!! Am I right??)

Well, I think that just about sums up what we've been up to for the past....5...months.... Gosh guys, I really am sorry! I'll do better, I promise!! I'm only taking one class this semester, so I should have plenty of time before the baby comes to make crafts and record memories and stuff. Speaking of crafts, if y'all have any ideas of something cute you'd like to see on here as a tutorial, tell me about it and--if it isn't too hard--I'll be happy to figure it out and post!
'Til next time! (Which won't be 5 months from now, I promise!)