Mama has moved!

I have decided to use a different blogging platform. Running 4 Mamas Comeback can now be found Here

Thanks for your support!!

Tis the Season for Some Changes

I promise I will discuss my progress with FlyLady as well as vegan (not so great!) on another post! Today as the year comes insanely close to the end, I want to talk about changes. Boy is my world rocking! After MUCH deliberation my husband and I decided that it is in our families best interest for me to be home most of the time. So as of January 1 I will be stepping down as a supervisor (a job I LOVE) and only work 5-10 hours a week. I am very lucky to be able to continue to do the job that I love so much. I was terrified before I made that final decision. I love my job, I love being the semi-boss (yup I'll admit it) but my family really takes a hit. So does my sanity, especially since my hard working hubby works so many hours. Now I have to admit that this was one of the toughest decisions I have ever had to make. In case you don't know, I am a bit of a feminist- hippie till I die baby (well hippie-ish). After my first marriage ended and I put myself through school as a single mom (shout out to all the single in school mama's in the world- holla!) I decided I would never depend on a man to take care of me. I really had to fit that idea into me being at home most of the time. I am so happy that my employer is letting me cut my hours so drastically (and not firing me!!) and allowing me to keep a foot in the professional world. Maybe it's more of a security blanket but I think that I can get the best of both worlds this way. I can be a mostly stay at home mommy as well as a working girl! Not to mention I get to work on my fitness and health. Remember I have a marathon to train for (even if I have yet to officially register for it yet, oh the nerves!).

This year will also be the first year my oldest batch is with their dad for Christmas. I'm trying to create some new type of tradition. My biggest fear is that my kids will feel that their Christmas with us is some half-assed thrown together crap. We have the younger two that will open presents on Christmas morning so I have to balance that somehow. My thought is to have our Christmas on Friday with a nice dinner and everything. All the kids will open some presents. We might even do a Saturday morning thing but the extended family would have to be excluded and the kids flight leaves at lunch time. Anyone have experience with this? It's crazy! I do love my crazy ever changing life though! It keeps me on my toes and things interesting!

So for the next chapter in my life, I will be home more (ahhh, yay!), blog more, workout more (gotta train!), and make this the year of the family! I want to really give it all to my family. My hubby deserves to be spoiled a bit, my kids deserve their mommy 110% not just after the chores are done. I can't wait to start this new chapter and to keep you in the loop with all my struggles and excitements with this new life.

My questions:
How have you balanced family, holidays and traditions?

Have you had any big life changes that you really had to work through?

Thanks for reading guys!!

I can't Believe I'm doing this!

I can not believe I am going to share this with you!! If you have no idea what the heck I am talking about then you must not have read my last post, tisk, tisk! I will first talk about the vegan portion, because believe it or not that's easier to talk about. So far on my "first" official day (I have been strictly vegan for about 4 days now- except for one skim milk latte) here is the latest:

Weight: 141 (-1lb) again this is 4 days vegan
Skin: same, a bit dry but it's getting cold out there!
Energy level: Actually a bit more energy
Cravings: Less sweets but caffeine is the same

It hasn't been difficult at all so far. I even practiced cooked for Thanksgiving next week. I have decided to be of course strict vegetarian but not strictly vegan. I am however cooking vegan food to go along side my families food. I tried Oh She Glows Ultimate Vegan Lentil Walnut Loaf and the super yummy, non vegan kid approved Brownie Pumpkin Pie!! They were both absolutely amazing!! I can honestly say that I did not feel I was missing out on anything!! I am very excited to give them a try next week!

Here is the second part of my challenge, to which I am really only 1 day in. I feel like I am about to step out in a bikini! I am the kind of girl that cleans my house very quickly, throwing clutter in my bed room if anyone is coming over (surprise visit from mother-in-law!). I have before pictures- I really don't like sharing but I will! I did no prepping!

First my bedroom- the worst because it's the catch-all!

now the bathroom: not too bad!

Living room- right after Tyler Tornado played!

I want new ways to store toys!

Lauren's Toy and book shelf

The dining room- notice the catch all area!!

Kitchen- not too bad at all!

Last area to be worked on is my entry way- the shoes always just get thrown around~

AHHH, I hate for anyone to see my house less than it's best but here you go! I have already put the laundry away and have followed some of her steps. Yesterday I was to clean the front of the cabinets in the bathrooms but I did that this past weekend. Today is 5 minutes decluttering rooms- really just 5 minutes! Pictures will come to show progress! Don't judge me people!! Whew, this flylady better help a mama out! Cross your fingers for a run tonight!!

Question of the day:

What are you most embarrassed for someone to see?

Thanks for reading!!

Challenge x 2

Hello, it's been a while, miss me? I promise I am really working at being a better blogger. I need to get more tips from my buddy Amanda (There are Two Sides). For the last 2 weeks I have been on a 30 day vegan diet challenge. I am already vegetarian but I have a coworker that is vegan and I have read a lot on how it is healthy to have a vegan diet. Plus, I read Skinny Bitch- my children will NEVER eat baby food meat after reading that book! In case you do not know the difference between vegetarian and vegan, here it is...
Vegetarian (the level I am at)
No flesh of an animal, including geletan (hooves and tendons) and broth as well as sauce with meat cooked in it.
Vegan
No animal products at all. That includes dairy (milk, cheese, yogurt, etc) and eggs.

Here is what I have learned so far:

1. I need to start this challenge over because I have not been very good at avoiding animal products. I was pretty strict and on it at first but I have to admit, soy lattes are gross! Can't I just take my good old almond milk in and they steam that!!
2. I can really only do this 6 days a week-ish. I LOVE my mother-in-law, but she is Italian (all you Italians out there just said "ohhh, gottcha, nuf said"). It was tough for me to go vegetarian 2 1/2 years ago. She didn't give me grief but it was a lot of work for her to cook me vegetarian meals along side her regular ones (pasta sauce with pork and meatballs anyone). I don't expect her to cook vegetarian for me, ever, but it's kind of who she is. So she does the best she can but it's more work. So to say I'm going vegan might just push her over the edge! So let's say I'll do vegan for every meal but dinner at her house on Sunday's!

It has been difficult to be vegan but a bit easier than I thought. Actually the family aspect is the most difficult. I can avoid most dairy but when I cook a meal or my wonderful hubby cuts up Parmesan cheese (YUM) and I don't eat it, there can be some difficulty. My kids have started to express that they miss meat with meals. I try to do mostly vegetarian meals but I throw in some meat once a week. I am not one of those people who try to convert everyone into vegetarianism. It's just my thing. However, if you want to know all the gory details of eating meat and animal products I will be more than happy to share! I plan on reporting my difficulties and challenges with being vegan as well as all the good stuff. I will be honest. I have read that I will loose weight (not my main priority but I can stand to loose a few), get clearer skin (it's really not bad now), feel better and be sick less. So here are my stats to begin the 30 day challenge:

weight: 142
skin: clear maybe a pimple here or there
energy level: a bit tired lately- but really I'm a mom goes with the territory!
Cravings: caffeine and sugar please!

I already take a multi vitamin, iron, and B-12 supplement but I will up the calcium as well.

OK, so if you noticed in the title I said challenge x 2. I am going to come clean: I can NOT keep up with my house at the moment!! It's not dirty I swear! I wipe off counters, sinks and toilets on a daily basis. I just can not keep up with getting chores done to the full extent. Laundry for example, I can wash- usually fold, but to actually put it away.... It's rough to get it all done. There has got to be a better way- enter FlyLady. After scouring the Internet I came across her site. I have tried her before but only for a few days. So my 2nd part to my 30 day challenge is to follow the lovely FlyLady for 30 days at least and see what happens. Again, I'm going to be honest. Later today I am going to go home and (gulp) take pictures for you all. Right now I am thinking about my bedroom that has piles of laundry that needs put away! I swear every time I want to put it away a kid needs something, or someone is sleeping so I can't get into their room to put their clothes away (the younger 2 of the bunch!). Really I could get in there but honestly who wants to risk waking a sleeping child. I hear a chorus of angels when they finally fall asleep! So here goes, let's see what happens in 30 days!!

Questions of the post/day:
Do you want to take on my challenge with me?
Is there another challenge you have for yourself?

Thanks for reading guys!!

Finding Balance

    I'm 4 kids deep, you all know this. Having 4 kids is more than 3 and more work- are you suprised? I am having THE MOST DIFFICULT TIME getting my groove since my litle man! Well, it's not the little man that's the problem, it's the whole "now I have 4 kids, what the hell did I get myself into?"

Really how could that adorible drooly face be a problem?