Tuesday, September 16, 2014

Idealshake review

I love sharing reviews!

My husband Rocky and I got a chance to sample the chocolate Idealshake, a meal replacement shake that naturally reduces hunger and cravings. We were so excited to try this product because we were constantly on the search for the best meal replacement shake due to the fact that we are always on the go, and secondly because Rocky has a consistent workout program he follows at the gym and would always come home hungry!

Rocky has tried many protein powders and meal replacements and I have always sampled from the huge bottle of whatever he decides to buy. It was always something new because the anterior never lived up to the hype. We both dislike having a chalky or artificial aftertaste!

We both sampled Idealshake as soon as we got it, I wanted to see if the "tastes great" would live up to its reputation. We had never heard of Idealshake before, however, after sampling, we won't forget their name! It tastes amazing, so similar to chocolate milk or a chocolate shake, without being overly sweet! We feel the taste and texture were right on. It was smooth, not grainy, and deliciously yummy, with no chalky, artificial, or mineral aftertaste!

You can mix Idealshake with water or milk. For our first try we mixed the powder with 1% milk in the shaker bottle that came with the product, which made it super fast and  easy to mix! After shaking we had a smooth creamy chocolate drink, sans lumps! That was a huge plus because I hate mixing and ending up with lumps of powder that didn't mix in!

Rocky decided he was going to try it as a post-gym workout. He got home from the gym and would make an Idealshake. Rocky works out at night the majority of the week, for about 90 minutes doing cardio and weights. He is trying to lose a little more weight and build muscle. He says that before trying Idealshake, it was easy to erase all he had completed in the gym by opening the fridge and snacking on leftovers. He would be super hungry after his workout and eating a piece of fruit never cut it, he was hungry enough to eat another meal! Idealshake changed that! After drinking Idealshake he fell satisfied and wasn't craving anything extra to eat. He felt that was a huge success! It helped him get closer to his goal weight and helped in his muscle recovery.

I would take Idealshake in the morning for a breakfast replacement. We have to little boys that keep me on the go and so it was great to be able to make a shake that tasted so good and that I knew was good for me, giving me vitamins and minerals and that would keep me going through the morning!

Our first bottle of Idealshake is now gone, however we are happy to say it won't be our last! We can't wait to order more, plus try some of their other products! We also love that they are a local company (here in Utah) since we love to see Utah businesses grow. Thanks Idealshake!

Monday, February 10, 2014

2nd part of 2nd pregnancy...is a first

I am officially past the 26 and a half weeks of pregnancy! This is a first for me since Riley was born at 26.5 weeks. I feel good, a little less nervous now to have gotten past this point. Bebe R is looking good!

Gender: Boy! We are still undecided about his name, except it starting with R (equaling the bebe "R").




Movement: He has been moving a ton, especially at night! I have anterior placenta (meaning the placenta is in front) so some of his movement in the beginning felt muffled but it is more pronounced now and more frequent.

 Size: Bebe R is almost 2 lbs, he is the size approximately of a head of lettuce! I am growing too and feel like I am showing more at this point than I was was Riley when he was 26 weeks.

Cravings: Sour foods....plus anything that probably induces heartburn/acid reflux! I have had a ton of acid reflux this time!

Sleep: I wake up a lot just because I am uncomfortable and am turning from one side to the other quite a bit. No more sleeping on my back...

Riley: We talk to him about "baby brother" and he knows the baby is in my tummy. He has also been a lot more clingy to me in the last few weeks...holding, snuggles...I am loving all those little moments because he is usually a go go go boy and doesn't like to be held very much!

Tuesday, October 8, 2013

Hello Goodbye Tuesday

The quick version of today...
Day off. Sleeping in. Good morning kisses. AM smoothies. Smiles. Playing. Sunshine. Advocare. DMV. Family. Thrift store shopping. Great deals. Photos Driving and more driving. Home. Phone calls. False alarms. Jammies. Puppies. Storytime. Full House. Crockpot chicken cooking. Blogging...

to elaborate on one of these. How about false alarms! So we were shopping with the fam, including my parents in law, and RR (Rocky Riley) and I had left and when we got home we got a call from the fam saying someone had stolen my mil's (mother-in-law's) purse from her cart. We felt so bad for her, because even though we had warned her to not leave any valuables just in the cart or with anyone, it is still such a hassle and horrible when something like this happens! However...about an hour later we got another call saying they had found her purse...in the car where she had left it! We got a good laugh...mostly out of relief!

I will also elaborate on crockpot chicken cooking...as in cooking right now at 10:45pm. It is for tomorrow (with some taste testing from me tonight) because I am trying to be better about prepping meals/foods for RR to have while I am at work. Riley is really into food and so it helps to have something ready for lunch to just warm up! I looked at some recipes but in the end I just took chicken breasts we had in the feezer, cut them up and added some "tuscany" seasoning which is a mix of garlic, basil, sun dried tomatoes, parsley..plus a few others spices. I also added a little chicken seasoning and cloves of garlic because we love garlic! Tomorrow Riley will probably eat it with buttered pasta or mac n cheese.

I will just end with saying I love spending time with my family!!




Monday, October 7, 2013

October Riley update

Riley went in for his huge checkup the end of September. Because he was born premature we had the option of enrolling him in various studies that will track his progress until he turns 3. We decided to do it because the research will help with other preeemies and also because it gives us a chance to see how he is developing. He has these checkups every 6 months and he does a regular physical plus a psychological evaluation where they play a bunch of games with him that have to do with his coordination, he also meets with a dietitian, and has a hearing test. Each checkup is at least 3 hours and this time we were there for four...whew...a long morning but we found out a lot and were able to ask the doctors various questions, especially about his diet because Riley is such a yo-yo eater.
 Overall Riley is doing really great, he is excelling in all the psychological evaluations and is willing to try new things and doesn't give up! He was on the go throughout and the doctor said to not expect him to slow down! Babies born as early as he was are very busy and have a fast metabolism as well. That wasn't really a surprise to us because Riley is very busy and active all day (except while he is asleep!).
 His dietitian said we need to focus on mealtimes with him and to not allow him to snack. She said preemies are used to eating just until they feel full and then don't care to eat more until a short time later they are hungry again, from not eating very much at mealtime. We have been working on this with Riley, although I do want him to eat more so when he asks for food while it is not mealtime I give him a snack! He love the fridge and we are lucky he cannot open it on his own! ;) He does love a variety of food and loves trying new foods.
 We feel so blessed in how Riley is progressing in so many ways! He loves to play, especially with his puppies and especially outdoors. He loves to feed himself, say "amen" at the end of prayers, and is very social! So that is just a little update on our Riley! He is 22 months (from his birthday) and 19 months (from his original due date).

Monday, November 26, 2012

Thanksgiving

Last week we celebrated Thanksgiving. The plan originally was to go to Idaho and be there with my parents and some of my siblings but at the last minute plans sadly changed. As I talked to my mom on Thanksgiving-eve she said that no matter the circumstances I should make the best of the day and be happy. I was in the Walmart parking lot getting ready to go in and buy clorox and dishsoap but after talking to her I added some thanksgiving ingredients to the menu to pick up too.

There was no turkey or pumpkin pie (the turkeys were rock solid frozen and i didn't think one would be defrosted to cook and be ready in time, and I am sadly the only one in the family who likes pumpkin pie!) so we went with ham and an apple caramel cake.

Thanksgiving morning we watched the Macys day parade and I made crescent rolls and deviled eggs (both staples at thanksgiving although my mom's rolls are much better! mine turned out well for my second time using yeast :). and of course some potatoes, stuffing, cranberry sauce, and the little pickles and carrots (that are also tradition!)

Rocky invited his sisters over to eat with us and I called my family in the evening to see how their day was. I spent a lot of time remembering past thanksgivings...from the ones in California to the ones in Idaho with married siblings! Also of course remembering black friday shopping teehee....and of course I was on the phone with my dad when some of my siblings left to get in on some of the "gray thursday" deals. 

I am thankful for my family...my wonderful husband who I love and adore, and our little Riley who is so funny and growing so fast! As well as my extended family for their love and support. I have so much to be thankful for, including the gospel, many opportunities, and of course our safety and health!

Speaking of which...a couple days after thanksgiving riley came down with croup but luckily we caught it early and took him to the doctor who gave examined him- his lungs still sounded good- and gave him some steroids to help with the inflammation in his throat. we kept him in (although the doctor said the cold air would be good for him) and told him no late night parties! He is doing a lot better now. It made me so sad when he woke up various times during the night crying because he was so congested and coughing. During the day he didn't let it keep him down, although he was a little more snuggly :) he is usually not a snuggly baby at all so that part was nice to be able to hold him and cuddle him! He is super inquisitive and curious!

Saturday, November 17, 2012

Family Night!

We had a little family night today! In the Gateway (an outdoor shopping mall) was hosting a concert featuring Kurt Bestor and a children's choir and doing their annual Christmas tree lighting. It was going to be a date night that turned into a family night and it wasn't super cold (until the very end) so Riley was happy in his little bear snuggle suit.

We got to the Gateway early and found parking and then window shopped...Dick's sport store, Aldos, Forever 21, Berkenstoff toy store while we waited. As the children's choir started to sing it also started to pour rain! We hung out under the eves of the toy store along with some other people, but that only allowed us to listen, not see the choir. Nonetheless, they sounded so pretty! Security started handing out free umbrellas about 20 minutes into the concert and those went pretty quick, but luckily it stopped raining about 10 minutes later! I think there were a lot of prayers that it would stop raining! We ventured out and got some hot chocolate and cookies that they were handing out and listened to the end of the choir and then to Kurt Bestor. He played beautifully...something not easy with the cold I'm sure!

The most exciting part of the night was the lighting of the Christmas tree! they had a synchronized music and light show including the tree. The tree itself was donated by a family in Utah. KSL (a local tv/radio station) starts looking for a tree in September and came across this certain tree in the front yard of the family's house. The family had decided the tree was getting too big for their yard (it is huge!) and generously donated it! The music and light show was so fun and they will have it replaying on the hour in the evenings during the Christmas holiday season. Riley loved the lights, the people, the music...everything! He is very observant and was taking everything in.

After the show we scurried on back to the car because we were starting to really feel the cold! Pictures and video are on my facebook and hopefully soon on the blog! It was so nice to have a (Saturday!) family night out. In the past these have been sadly close to non-exsistant but now that we have a different schedule we have plans to have more family outings and more date nights!

Thursday, November 15, 2012

Hi!
 sooo...the month is flying by just like october flew by.

riley had a fun first halloween. trunk or treats, a cute costume, fun pictures! he was a little jack-o-lantern and the weather was great for the trunk or treat activities we were invited to. he came away with a steal of candy, but even better, a lot of great memories!

the first restaurant closed (also at the end of october) and...moving is a pain! i got a great deal on a storage unit for the time being until the new location opens. it was bittersweet because i have a lot of great memories of rocky and me there...lots of learning experiences from me working there...so many things. but sometimes not everything is in your control and you have to look on to bigger and better things! the restaurant in sandy is still open and i am helping right now with their lunchtime delivery.

i went to some fun blogger events! rocky and i had a little date night at taste of chocolate and were able to support the cause of vaccinating ninos in other lands who don't have the funds to get vaccinations. there were a lot of kinds of chocolate to sample from different countries. also we won some sweet prizes, including a huge gift basket of chocolate treats from whole foods...yumm a chocolate granola with strawberries...caramel chocolate organic truffles...and a ton more!

i did miss out on a couple blogger events that i hope to be able to be a part of in the future! there was a great passionfruit blogger event, where you could go and get help with your blog...this (obvi!!!) would have been such a great one to go to because my blog...oh my blog! however, i carry on ;)

my awesome sweet friend edith, who was also one of my best companions on the mission came to visit from california! she also cam for a baptism and sealing but stayed a couple nights with us and it was great catching up, going out to eat at pei wei (her first time!) and of course riley getting to meet his tia (aunt) edith! i still call her hermana (sister) from the mission...it has just stuck! she is amazing and i can't wait to see her again!

i have also gotten to hang out more with my sister stace who also lives in utah. we have gone to some blogger events together and shopping...she gets coupons for free stuff at old navy and we went together last saturday to pick out free dresses! i got a cute black and white striped dress with 3/4 sleeves and she got a two toned blue sweater dress- great for winter! we always seem to run out of time so fast when we are hanging out.

riley is such a cutie cute cute little baby who doesn't want to be a baby! he is crawling like crazy, standing on his own and walking supported by the couch or whatever he is holding onto! he loves to feed himself cheerios and other finger foods and loves fruits and veggies! he is not a fan of rice cereal, snuggles, or getting dressed. he is super vocal and loves to play, read his books, be around other people and babies, and is so attentive! if there is something he wants he goes after it (especially because he is climbing and crawling faster now haha). he sleeps really well during the night and the whole family is happy about that! he really is such a sweet, lovable, happy little guy! we feel so blessed that his health has been excellent and even with him starting to get his teeth in this last week, he hasn't let it get him down! i got a lot of great tips from friends and family via facebook as well about teething!

i could go on and on about riley...he is growing and changing and all that fun stuff. but i will continue with...

We got a lot of snow last weekend!!! it was crazy and it has stuck around for most of the week but with the sun it has melted off somewhat. we hope to have good traveling weather for thanksgiving next week! it is so nice to be inside and watch the snow falling and is horrible to drive in! the city has been great about clearing the roads so far but saturday night i got a scare when it as coming down pretty heavily and i was out driving and of course no plow had been through. i got home safe and was happy to not have to go out again that night!

rocky has been going to the gym a lot, i am happy he has been able to get back into his regular routene because in october things got kind of crazy and he is a lot happier when he goes to the gym! i have to get back int othe whole gym thing as well...we are working out how we can go together because we always used to go together in the evenings before riley came home...and yesterday we both confessed how much we miss that! i know i can go on my own...and if i go during the day they have childcare there but i would rather go with rocky because it was something i really loved doing with him (even though we didn't do everything together it was having him there!)

and so things go....november is going by super fast and soon it will be december! i am blogging from the mac and i have no pics saved on here. i need another power cord for my hp. thats all! for me, blogs are more fun with pics so if you have read all this without the pics i hope you have used your imagination a bit! or if we are friends on facebook you can find cute pics of riley and some of the other things i talked about! goodnight!