Motivation by Humiliation

I've been OKd by the Doc for major exercise. I've plateaued in my weight loss. It's June 1st. Therefore, I'm taking my weight loss up a notch.

Image from essence.com

For those of you who don't listen to Atlanta's The Bert Show on Q100, Motivation by Humiliation is a segment they do to motivate listeners to reach their weight loss goal. Here's how it works: Jay has taken a photograph of me in shorts and a sports bra (I'm not brave enough to don a bikini). If I don't reach my goal by July 1st, I have to post the picture on this blog. (Sorry Joe!) If that's not motivation, what is?


What's my goal you ask? Well, you all are going to help me choose it! Please vote in the above poll What is Mama Bird's Weight Loss Goal? by Friday to help me choose.

In the meantime, I'll be working out and eating healthy....wish me luck!

I Wanna Win--Please Help Me!

How awesome are these mobiles? Doesn't Huddy need one? Check out her blog, mobiles, and comment to help me win! But you gotta promise that if you win, you'll give me the mobile and not keep it for yourself...no matter how badly you want to. ;)

http://simplecasualliving.blogspot.com/2010/05/citycottage-shop-give-away.html#comment-form

xoxo

Melts My Heart

A yawn.

A look.

And a smile.

Happy Birthday to...

Who's as beautiful on the inside as she is on the outside, talks faster than anyone I know, makes me laugh at least once a day, has been my best friend since the moment she was born, has never let me be the boss of her (even though Lord knows I've tried), loves me even though I love the spotlight, should be my personal shopper, and is the best aunt to Huddy??? That's right...Aunt Sissy!

She is 24 years old today and I love her with all my heart. She should be celebrated every day of the year!


Happy Birthday Linds! xoxo

The BEST Dinner

I'm only sorry I didn't take pictures. It was so colorful and beautiful! I was too hungry and it looked too appetizing to take the time for photos. I literally cleaned my plate--practically licked it.

I wanted to share this with y'all because if you're anything like me and Jay, you have a stupid-hard time deciding what to eat for dinner e.v.e.r.y. night. Oh--and did I mention how easy it was?!?!

The following recipe has been modified from Publix's Apron's Simple Meals:

Grilled Fish & Tropical Salsa, Avocado Salad, Sweet Potato & Corn Muffins (serves 4)

1 lb. tropical fruit salad (bite-size pineapple, strawberries, kiwi)
1/2 c. grape tomatoes
2 tbs. fresh cilantro (finely chopped)
4 tilapia fillets
1 tbs. balsamic vinegar
1/2 tsp. seasoned salt & pepper blend
A squirt of honey

Combine fruit, tomatoes, cilantro, balsamic vinegar and honey for salsa. Season both sides of fish with seasoned salt and pepper blend. Grill fish. Top with tropical salsa.

A tiny bit of minced garlic
2 tbs. E.V.O.
2 tbs. balsamic vinegar
1 bag of romaine lettuce
1 c. grape tomatoes
1/4 c. diced red onions
1 avocado

Combine garlic, oil and vinegar in a medium bowl and whisk until well-blended. Add lettuce, tomatoes and onions. Cut avocado into bite-size pieces. Add to salad; toss to blend.

I served the fish and salad with corn muffins and a sweet potato. DELISH. And with the sweet potato (and a little brown sugar on top), we didn't even need dessert!

Bon Apetit!

Da Boys

We got the Blevins grandbabies together last night for a rockin' good time. Drew is such a good big bro and cuz. And thanks to Kari & Dave for dinner!

(from L.) Grady, Drew & Hudson

a.k.a. Gradymeister, Drew Man & Huddy Buddy

I know I'm biased, but aren't these boys beautiful?

The Kween's Designs: A Shameless Plug

For those of you who don't know my mom, she is an extremely creative, multi-talented woman. Before I was born and for the first three years of my life, she was the Director of Merchandising for Contempo Casuals (now Wet Seal), then as a stay-at-home-mom she gave entrepreneuership a whirl and created Sweet Shirts in which she designed and created women's and children's clothing during the late 80s and early 90s and then had a prosperous booth at an antique store in the mid 90s. She now works at a lovely decor boutique called C'est Moi and does freelance interior design work under the name A Change of Space.

A few weeks before Baby Blev/Nugget/Hudson's arrival, my mom got the idea to hand-paint a few onesies for him. Because of my obsession with all things nest & bird surrounding my little bird's nursery, she had the idea to paint a nest on the onesie with a blue & green egg. She also created one with a bird on it. As some friends recently had babies too, she painted a few for them (some with pink & yellow eggs for girls!). I think they're so fabulous that she could sell them at baby boutiques!

Hudson's tee is signed with a "g" for Gamsie!

an example of a onesie...and up close...

Unfortunately, my mom doesn't ever think the things she creates are as fabulous as they really are, so with her permission, I'm tooting her horn and advertising for her! If you think her creations are as adorable as I do, and you have a baby or toddler you can buy for, please email her at kweenie13@aol.com and let her know the size and gender of your little one and she'll create a one-of-a-kind baby onesie or t-shirt for you! These hand-painted creations are $20...and if you have your own idea or want something even more unique, just ask her in your email and she may be able to paint it just for your little one. :) 

Hudson @ 1 Month

Hudson's 1 month birthday was on Saturday (5.8.10) so I'm a little behind in posting this. My plan is to take a photo of our little bird in a nest with an egg declaring how old he is every month. I'll try to be on time the rest of the 11 months! :)

Hudson:

How old?: 1 month

Weight?: 9lbs. 7oz.  

Length: 21 3/4"

Size clothes: Newborn and 0-3 months...it depends on the brand...baby clothes are weird!

Movement: He can hold his head up pretty well, loooves tummy time, and has even rolled on to his back from the tummy position!

Me:

Stretch marks?: Yep. They appeared in the last few weeks of pregnancy...trying to get rid of them. :)

Sleep?: Depends on the night, but Hud has started to go 4-5 hours between feedings at night which = more sleep for Mama!

Weight loss: 20 lbs. (-12 lbs. right away and -8 more since then! Still just on a "walking" regimen until my 6 week appt., but I have ordered Jillian Michael's 30-day Shred (as seen on Mrs. Southern Belle's blog and encouraged by my sister).

What I'm looking forward to: Every day. :)
Best moment of the month: Every moment. But if I have to choose one, it would be waking up and seeing Huddy's face on my first Mother's Day.

When I grow up, I want to be Kelly Ripa

or Reese Witherspoon. I think both of these women are just absolutely adorable. And as I'm home now, I've been watching Live! with Regis & Kelly and I've noticed that she wears nude pumps or sandals almost every day. No matter what outfit she's wearing. I'm sure I'm behind on this trend, but I decided I had to have a pair of nude pumps.

So I found these

and these

both from Nine West. They didn't have my size.

Then my sis found these on Piperlime

but once again, they didn't have my size.

And then my mom found these Cole Haan's.

I can only imagine how comfy my feet would be if I could afford a Cole Haan!

Or these Stuart Weitzman pumps

or peep toes

Oh Cole and Stuwie...why do you have to be so expensive?!?!

But have no fear...DSW and Jessica Simpson are here! I exchanged a pair of boring flats and got these instead...

Yay!

10 Things I Hated About This Weekend

10. Jay had to leave us for the long weekend. (But--it was totally worth it. He was able to be present at his grandmother's 90th birthday celebration. Happy Birthday Grams!)

9. Because he was out of town, Jay missed Hud's 1 month birthday. (Pics to come!)

8. Time spent with my dear friends (4+ hours) wasn't long enough. (Nor did we have enough laughs...ha!)

7. I didn't get enough pictures of these two. Can there ever be enough?

6. This was only the first time Hudson & I were invited to dinner with my mom and her girlfriends. We're crossing our fingers we'll be asked back...what lovely women!

5. Jay wasn't home for this:

Ellie got sick and pooped all over the first floor. And yes--it was runny.

4. A text from my former roomie and one of my best friends sat unnoticed for two hours. It read: "We're engaged!" And I still haven't seen her...or the ring.

3. Hudson slept through our shopping trip to Scott's Antique Market and didn't get to see all the beautiful furniture & decor.

2. My mom and I didn't get enough of It's Complicated. (Hudson & I gave it to her early for Mother's Day!) 

1. Mother's Day ended. I couldn't have asked for a better first Mother's Day. What an absolute joy it is being a mom! This has been the best month of my life...

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And a Happy (belated) Mother's day to my sweet Mommy. She is the best mom a girl could ask for and I love watching her as a 1st time grandmother!

Mommy-suits

Thanks to ole' Huddy Buddy, I might not ever wear a bikini again. But who needs a bikini when Land's End has these adorable tankinis?!?! And of course, I was too slow on the draw and missed their 40% off swimwear sale last week. Sad day. But I'm determined to wait it out until they go on sale again...cross your fingers for me!

I've yet to share this with many people, but Hud gave me some wicked stretch marks around my belly button. I'm determined to make them look a little better and recently bought Mederma b/c it's the cheapest stretch mark therapy cream I can find. I'm tempted to take before & after pics to see the difference...what do you think, should I do it?!?!

I think I can...I think I can...

CRAWL!!!

That's right folks. Hudson is less than one month old, but he loves his tummy time!!! And totally frogs around like he thinks he's gonna crawl right off the mat.

Oh, and he can practically do push-ups.

Photo courtesy of Curtis Baker Photography

My kid is such a stud.

Hudson's 1st Bath

As I changed Hudson's diaper today, he had a nice, runny shart. The perfect time for his first bath!!! (Don't worry, I've been bathing him, but have just been giving him sponge baths.) This poop required much more than sponging. :)  My dad was over, so he got to assist....thanks Dad!

 

I know a man named Michael Finnigan...

 

Did you sing that song when you took baths as a kid? Or is that a Willhite family tradition only? Comment and finish the song if you can!

The Friends & Family Plan

Hudson & I have been so lucky the past few weeks with all of our visitors!! My mom, dad and Jay's parents visit regularly, Jay's aunt Fran came to meet Hudson, friends have provided us with food, and my aunt Kay is coming at the end of the month! So even though I haven't posted daily about their visits, I have been good about getting pictures of everybody with Huddy Buddy and wanted you all to see them...

Hud with his Pops & Gaga

Uncle Dave

Aunt Sissy & Bryan

Kelly...with Kade still in her belly! (Thank GOD he's not anymore, huh Kel?!?)

Miss Suzy

Aunt Sissy loving on some Hud.

Christin & Rich...you guys next?!? Haha.

Aunt Fran was here to meet Hud and celebrate her birthday!

Papi!!!

Hud & his girlfriend, Nora

Aunt Kari & cousin Drew